FNC Under Fire For Overworking SF9’s Rowoon Despite Announcing His Hiatus For Back Injury
Recently fans have been quite disappointed with the way FNC Entertainment has been treating their artists, specifically SF9’s Rowoon. Previously, FNC posted a statement on July 17 revealing that Rowoon had back and knee pain and would be taking a hiatus to work on his health. They stated, “Our artists’ health always comes first and we will work hard to make sure that he gains his heath back quickly.”
But just one day after the announcement was posted, news was reported that SF9 as a whole would be making an appearance on a home shopping show on July 20.
[속보] SF9 완전체 홈쇼핑 최초 출연!
2020.7.20 1AM
에세푸나인 매진뿌셔! 완판돌 등극 예정★https://t.co/VrlEnjQ1Oe#나만없어_글로리타월_후회전에_주문필수 #고민은_배송만_늦출뿐 #매진되면_못사요 #SF9 #에스에프나인 #여름향기가날춤추게해 #여름수건이날춤추게해 #CJ오쇼핑 pic.twitter.com/dKokAXXGBW
— DancingTowel9 (@sf9towel) July 17, 2020
Fans sent in complaints about this schedule but they went ahead with the activity anyway. The staff even made the mistake of airing a part of the set that showed Rowoon walking on crutches.
아파서 혼자 걸음도 못걷는애 옆에서 부축한명 안해주면서 목발짚고있는 모습 화면에 잡히니까 황급히 앵글 돌리고 이거 끊어야 될거같애?? 님들이 보기에도 애 상태 안좋아보이니까 그러겠지 그럴거면 처음부터 방송에 세우질 마세요 pic.twitter.com/ITuwzuyu5r
— 김또구 (@kimmseokwoo) July 19, 2020
Fans sent in comments to the show asking about Rowoon and the crutches, but the staff’s response was “Everyone…please don’t post about Rowoon being hurt please! We trust you guys!”
They even made him tell the fans that he was alright through the prompter.
프롬포터로 로운씨 괜찮다고 말해주세요 이딴거 시키면서 애 눈치주면 진짜 죽여버린다 pic.twitter.com/8GhhYHp0VX
— 김또구 (@kimmseokwoo) July 19, 2020
Fans were angry at the fact that they made Rowoon, someone who has back pain, sit on a hard chair through an hour broadcast at that started at 1 AM.
This wasn’t the only schedule that Rowoon had after the announcement that he would be taking a hiatus. Two days after the hiatus announcement, Rowoon participated in all the video call fan sign meetings.
Rowoon, who could see that fans were upset, left a message through the fan café to let fans know that he was alright.
How have you all been? I am feeling much better thanks to all your worries and support! Have a good lunch and have a happy day!
During one fan’s video call, he stated that with his upcoming drama schedule starting in August, he revealed that he would like to rest on his birthday.
석우의 생일 계획🐭🎂 pic.twitter.com/uzqMqwvzgO
— 로나🐭🍉 (@krwo_on96) August 2, 2020
But one day later, FNC announced that they would be holding their SF9 eighth mini album [9loryUS] VIDEO CALL EVENT on August 7, which is his birthday.
[📣] 2020.08.07 SF9 8TH MINI ALBUM [9loryUS] VIDEO CALL EVENT#SF9 #에스에프나인 #여름향기가날춤추게해 #SummerBreeze #9loryUS
— SF9_FANCLUB (@SF9_FANCLUB) August 3, 2020
Fans couldn’t believe that FNC continued to make Rowoon go through with all these schedules regardless of posting a hiatus announcement. The most recent video call event on Rowoon’s birthday was a schedule that he didn’t even know about until the post was revealed online. Fans hope that FNC will take care better care of their artists instead of bombarding them with schedules regardless of their injuries.