The Rose’s Woosung Calls Out Toxic K-Pop Fans In Rant

He reminded fans that idols are just humans.
News
Koreaboo

The Rose‘s Woosung recently made his solo comeback with the album 4444.

Today, he held The afterparty with WOOSUNG via YouTube Premium.

During the live broadcast, Woosung went on a couple of self-proclaimed rants. He gave a somewhat lecture to fans. While he reassured them that it was okay to be a fan because they found a member handsome, he advised them not to assume they are perfect.

I already know that BLACKROSEs know this because like that’s why you guys like our music, right. It’s about that. It’s about self reflection, and it’s about healing your traumas that you had in the past. For newer fans maybe if you are here because Jeff is handsome. Well, Jeff is pretty handsome, so yeah, keep liking that. Jeff is handsome now, yesterday, tomorrow. I don’t know… 30 years, he’ll still be handsome. If you like just watching him play the bass because he’s handsome, great, there’s that, there’s love for that. But don’t expect him or any one of us to not make mistakes.

— Woosung

LEE JAEHYEONG
Lee Jaehyeong

Woosung reminded fans that they are human beings and everyone has their own moral standards.

Don’t expect us to be in your category of things that are right because we are not. We are our own human beings. I have categories that I think is right, and you have your category. I don’t pressure you to think my way; you don’t need to pressure me to think your way, and that’s that.

— Woosung

Additionally, he seemed to make a statement concerning people who choose to announce their departures from a fandom. Woosung reminded them it’s okay because it doesn’t directly affect him.

And if you think all of a sudden, ‘Oh, Jeff is not handsome anymore. I don’t like him anymore,’ that’s cool, or ‘I don’t like Woosung’s voice anymore,’ then, cool, move on. I’ll move on. Because you love your life more that this is such not a big incident that will hurt you, crush you down, or anything like that. …Like you coming to a concert is not about me, it’s about you, you’re there to enjoy yourself … You’re coming to a concert to feel things with the music that we have and enjoy and learn about life and experience.

— Woosung

Another clip circulated showing Woosung talking about celebrities in general. He called out toxic fans who are not just delulu but set unrealistic expectations of celebrities, expecting them to be more than human.

It becomes unhealthy where you feel like you know them too well, or you own them, or you expect certain things out of them, but we’re just talking about humans here, right? Like you are human, you make mistakes; I am human, I will make mistakes. Other celebrities, other artists are human; they are going to make mistakes. They are going through the same experiences as you are; they are not greater nor lesser than you are. We are all just going through our experiences and learning as we go, so it becomes toxic when you kind of think of them as something higher. …They’re not higher, and you’re not higher either.

— Woosung

Netizens suspect that Woosung’s rants were in response to recent events in the K-Pop industry, as idols have unrealistic god-level expectations of them.

Recently, Woosung’s friend BTS‘s Suga was heavily criticized even after apologizing and paying a fine for his drunk driving scooter incident.

bts suga
Suga

Likewise, Seunghan‘s departure from RIIZE was recently announced. This decision was made within 48 hours after it was announced he would return after a 10-month hiatus. Seunghan’s departure from the group appeared to be a result of SM Entertainment giving in to bullying from some fans who protested his return, sending funeral wreaths to the company, as they were angry about his pre-debut lifestyle, as it had been revealed he had a girlfriend and smoked.

seunghan
Seunghan | SM Entertainment

Most recently, a young fan claimed to have been assaulted by someone who had been with Jessi and her friends. Some have vilified Jessi for her lack of responsibility in the escalated situation. Some feel she should not have stepped away from the scene or tried more actively to stop her acquaintances. A lot has happened in such a short time, as Jessi parted ways with her agency almost immediately after the controversy broke out; she faced interrogation over the identity of the attacker and apologized.

Woosung made some excellent points concerning fan and idol relationships. Hopefully, his words will continue to garner attention.

The Rose

The Rose’s Woosung Says An ATEEZ Collab “Is Very Possible”

Content Creator Under Fire For Alleged Racism And Xenophobia Toward Popular Korean Band At 2024 Coachella

ATEEZ Makes History, Joining LE SSERAFIM And The Rose As 2024 Coachella Performing Artists

“I Want Your Other Stick”: The Rose’s Woosung, KARD BM, And Epik High’s Tablo Trade Lightsticks

See more The Rose

Next Page
Scroll to top