Former After School member and actress Nana has publicly criticized Sunwoo, a member of the K-pop group THE BOYZ, over his alleged rude behavior in a recent viral video.
The controversy began when footage surfaced online showing Sunwoo dropping his AirPods while walking toward an elevator. In the video, he shouted, "My AirPod!" as a security guard retrieved the item and handed it to him with both hands. Sunwoo, however, accepted it with one hand and appeared to not express gratitude, sparking backlash from netizens.
The video quickly went viral, amassing millions of views and igniting debates about Sunwoo's behavior. Critics accused him of lacking basic courtesy, with many pointing out that he did not pick up the AirPods himself or properly thank the security guard.
"He needs to be scolded," Nana commented using her personal account.
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Sunwoo later addressed the issue on a fan communication platform. He acknowledged that the video could be interpreted negatively and explained his side of the story. According to Sunwoo, he was momentarily confused as a fan had shouted something at him, and he did not initially realize his AirPods had fallen. After discovering what had happened, he said he thanked the security guard verbally but admitted that he had not bowed his head as is customary in South Korea.
"I can't explain every situation like this forever," Sunwoo wrote. "I admit it was my fault for making it appear that way. I'll be more mindful in the future to avoid misunderstandings." He also emphasized that he regularly greets staff members and strives to show respect in all interactions.
This is not the first time Sunwoo has faced criticism. In July 2020, he was called out after a smoking controversy after being photographed holding a cigarette at a non-smoking beach. Although he was not underage, fans criticized him for violating public space norms and posting the image on his official social media account. Sunwoo issued an apology at the time, expressing regret for disappointing fans and promising to reflect on his actions.
