[ASKKPOP] Former YG trainee and now Cube trainee, Yang Hong Seok, apologizes and explains the private SNS posts fans dug up
Fans dug up a Cyworld mini homepage as well as private Instagram accounts of Yang Hong Seok and his girlfriend. What they found started to circulate online and the trainee found himself in the midst of backlash regarding his past posts.
There were several issues that were being pointed. The idol, despite his gentle flower boy appearance was found to use a lot of foul language like "f*ck" and "sh*t" pretty much constantly. He also left words like"Girls, watch this and lose weight"in response to online posts he found.
[Left: Girlfirend's post,Right: Gifts that Yang Hong Seok received from fans]
Finally, perhaps the most controversial issue that fans found was Yang Hong Seok's lack of respect towards other entertainers or artists with years of experience in the field, despite him being a trainee who hasn't even debuted yet.
After attending veteran ballad singerSung Si Kyung's concert with his girlfriend, Yang Hong Seok uploaded a post on his private Instagram, and also changed his user ID to read 'sungsibalnom0701' - which can be interpreted as a play on words to mean 'Sung Si [Kyung] f*cker'. He was also seen calling actorPark Bo Gum"f*cking ugly".
Yang Hong Seok [sungsibalnom0701]:What we desperately wished for and dreamed of, Sung Si Kyung's concert that we attended together. Felt like we were floating on clouds the three hours of the concert. The best weather, and the best concert, and being with the best you. Thank you! Always :)
Yang Hong Seok:Nope
Girlfriend [yeonhaj]:I declare war. #f*ckinghandsome #parkbogum #handsome #like #sameage #handsomeagain #howdare #leeyoobi #following
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With fans voicing their anger and disappointment, Yang Hong Seok wrote a long post on his fan cafe to apologize and explain himself.
He began by stating,
"Hello, this is Yang Hong Seok. I wanted to greet you with good news, but I have come to make an apology with a pitiful heart. First, I bow my head and sincerely apologize for hurting you and disappointing all the fans who have trusted and loved me. However, it seems that fans' disappointment is growing even more due to some things that aren't true, so I want to clarify some of the misunderstanding while also reflecting on the things I have done wrong."
He then went on to address several issues.
The first issue he addressed was the speculation that he gave his girlfriend the gifts fans gave him. He asserted that he cherishes every gift and letter he has received from fans and has never shared them with anybody else. He then explained that the macarons and chocolates seen in his girlfriend's post were gifts that he personally purchased and gave to her, only because he enjoyed them so much when fans gave them to him. He said the 'Fresh' skincare items were also something purchased by him for his girlfriend, but he admitted that he did give away the 'Fresh' items he received from his fans to his mom because she loved the products so much, and apologized for that.
He also touched upon the topic of his vulgar language and admitted that he should have known better than to use such foul language even if he was quite young at the time. He also explained that it was during a time when he was preparing for entrance exams and due to the stress, he probably spoke more harshly, and that he regrets the things he has written.
On the topic of his private Instagram account, he revealed that he opened it to keep in touch with his girlfriend, whom he was in a long distance relationship with at the time. Out of wish to see more of her and feel close to her, he had created a personal Instagram account, not realizing fans would find out about it, and says he should have been more cautious.
He then concluded with the words,
"Most of all, I'm just sorry and really sorry that I have returned the love I have received in the form of disappointment.
Although I want to give excuses for all the various stories that are being spread about me, because I was the one who caused the initial problem, I'm not in a position to say any more.
At first, I was not even going to speak out because I thought that it would be out of place for me to even try to explain, since I thought of myself as a lowly being as I'm only a trainee who has received more love than he deserves.
However, I thought to myself that it was my duty to try to explain the truth and apologize, even if there is just one person who is willing to listen.
What is most difficult for me right now is thinking about each and every fan, who has shown me so much love and trust, having been hurt by all this.
I'm also upset and shocked that all this has become known in a situation, where I, myself, was starting to think maybe I should wrap up my personal relationships now that I have found a new agency and it's a time during which i should focus even more on practicing.
Until the day I meet all of you, I will reflect and work to improve my skills."
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However, after he posted this lengthy apology and explanation, fans pointed out flaws in his story. They insisted that he could not have bought his girlfriend the same chocolates as those given to him by fans, because those chocolates were limited edition and came in limited edition packaging just for that one month. Because his girlfriend's post was at a much later date, fans pointed out that he couldn't have bought the exact same chocolates for his girlfriend like he said he did.
After criticisms arising once more, Yang Hong Seok deleted his apology post and it is no longer listed on his fan cafe.
