In a recent incident, K-pop star Lee Na-eun from the group APRIL faced criticism after her appearance in a video with YouTuber KwakTube.
KwakTube publicly apologized, stating he overlooked significant issues while creating the content and promised to approach future projects with greater sensitivity. He emphasized that his personal feelings shouldn't overshadow public perception, especially given his history with school violence advocacy. Lee Na-eun expressed her distress over being misunderstood and the impact it had on her mental well-being.
The controversy surrounds allegations that Lee Na-eun was involved in bullying fellow member Lee Hyun-joo during their time in APRIL, which led to Hyun-joo's departure from the group. Despite a lawsuit against the former members for defamation, the claims against Hyun-joo were dismissed. Following these events, Na-eun took a two-year hiatus from the industry before transitioning to acting.
Given KwakTube's history of speaking out against school violence, his collaboration with Na-eun drew intense scrutiny, prompting him to make the video private shortly after its release. Critics voiced their concerns over perceived hypocrisy, questioning the message being sent by allowing a controversial figure to appear in his content. This incident highlights the ongoing debate around accountability and the responsibilities of public figures in the Korean entertainment industry.