FTISLAND’s Lee Hongki Defends Choi Minhwan Again Amid Ongoing Prostitution Scandal

From former LABOUM member and ex-wife Yulhee‘s damning exposé, including recorded phone calls, FTISLAND member and ex-husband Choi Minhwan‘s prostitution problem has become publicized.

Amid the scandal, FNC Entertainment released an official statement claiming that Minhwan felt “responsible” for what had happened and that he wished to halt all activities.

FTISLAND’s Minhwan To Halt All Activities Amid His Prostitution Scandal

For Minhwan’s fellow FTISLAND member Lee Hongki, though, there seems to be hope that the scandal is not true. In a now-deleted Weverse post, Hongki asked fans to “not believe everything so easily.”

It’s their private lives, but it ended up like this. What was wrong must be addressed, apologies given, and responsibilities taken. But still, we should not believe everything so easily.

— Lee Hongki

The post, referring to Minhwan’s prostitution as “private life,” inevitably faced intense backlash. Netizens discussed Hongki’s post and were critical over the ambiguity of the message.

F.T. Island’s Hongki Faces Criticism Over Message About Minhwan’s Prostitution Scandal

While the post had been deleted, Hongki continues to voice support for Minhwan in his Weverse activities. In a Weverse comment to a fan calling out his previous post, Hongki got hostile and defensive.

The point is not in fact checking what Yulhee has exposed. The point is whether or not a father of three children has been going to brothels for prostitution. And there is enough evidence to conclude that he did. In fact, Choi Minhwan is now under investigation for prostitution, so…  I’m not sure what more I need to know. Just keep in mind that no one wants to support someone who is a frequent flyer at a prostitution brothel. Good work on today’s performance. I hope you get good rest, and that you think about what you said one more time.

— Fan

What if he did not pay for sex? What if the business was not a brothel?? Will you be able to take responsibility for the things you just said??

— Lee Hongki

The comment made it seem that Hongki believes Minhwan has not sought prostitution at brothels, despite the “evidence” presented in Yulhee’s YouTube video. When a screenshot of the Weverse interaction made its rounds online, K-Pop fans expressed further disappointment at Hongki. A theqoo post has since garnered over 1.7K comments calling out Hongki for “picking fights” with the fans over the matter.

• “Having escort girls at the bar table is prostitution, is it not? He paid for their time. Having sex isn’t the only thing that constitutes prostitution.”
• “Oh, I see. So he thinks it’s OK for a married man with children to go to an adult establishment where escort girls provide service?”
• “What is he saying…”
• “?????”
• “Even if he didn’t have sex with any of the prostitutes, he should be shamed for going to adult establishments and drinking with escorts when he’s a married man with kids.”

• “Oh, wow… This is the worst.”
• “What’s wrong with him? Geez.”
• “He’s just asking for trouble… Getting his own group canceled for good.”
• “Oh… I did not expect Lee Hongki to react this way. I’m quite surprised and… even more disappointed.”
• “But Minhwan literally asked his pimp friend to book him a hotel/motel room. LOL.”

Neither Lee Hongki nor Choi Minhwan has commented since.

Read more about the events leading up to her divorce, according to Yulhee:

Yulhee Gives The Full Breakdown Of The Events Leading Up To Her Divorce With F.T. Island’s Minhwan