Lee Hong-ki recently found himself embroiled in controversy after defending the group's youngest member, Choi Min-hwan (32), who is facing allegations of soliciting prostitution. This has led to a backlash against Lee. Amidst the turmoil, Lee drew further attention by sharing a selfie with singer Oh Jong-hyuk, formerly of Click-B, on his social media. His actions have puzzled fans, especially as his comments have caused division within the fandom.
On October 25, following the emergence of Choi Min-hwan's 'solicitation allegations,' Lee posted on the fan community Weverse, stating, "It was their private matter, and it turned out this way. He should admit his wrongdoing and apologize." He added, "But we shouldn't believe everything too easily," seemingly defending Choi. Lee expressed his determination by saying, "I have to protect and endure; that's who we are. What I can do is move forward while being hit by stones."
Some fans criticized Lee's comments, suggesting they could cause secondary harm to the involved parties. They argued that blindly defending a group member is unwise and urged consideration for the victims. Others expressed their disapproval of Lee's defense.
Lee further stirred controversy on October 26 by questioning, "What if it's not prostitution or a brothel? Can you take responsibility for what you're saying now?" This was in response to a fan's comment emphasizing the issue was not about fact-checking the allegations but whether Choi, a father, engaged in solicitation, for which there is ample evidence. Lee later deleted his comment as the controversy grew.
Previously, Choi Min-hwan's ex-wife, Yulhee, revealed on her YouTube channel 'Yulhee's House' on October 24 that Choi's visits to establishments were a reason for their divorce. She released recordings implicating Choi in solicitation allegations.
Choi allegedly mentioned 'motel' and 'toothbrush,' further supporting the solicitation claims. He reportedly asked, "Is there anything I haven't paid for yet? How much should I give?" When a club associate mentioned 2.38 million won, Choi requested the account details and amount via Telegram.
On October 25, the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul announced they had launched a preliminary investigation into Choi Min-hwan's case, which involves allegations of violating the Prostitution Punishment Act. A post on an online community board stated that a complaint had been filed through the National Sinmungo, urging a thorough investigation into Choi's alleged violations.
Complainant A expressed shock upon learning about the recordings released by Yulhee, stating they were once a casual fan of FT Island's music. The club associate B, accused of facilitating solicitation, was also reported to the police. Complainant A argued that the facilitator A claimed Choi had no real intention of engaging in solicitation, but the legal definition of solicitation facilitation was met, making punishment inevitable.
Meanwhile, FNC Entertainment commented on the matter, stating, "It's difficult for us to fully understand personal matters related to the couple," but confirmed that "Choi Min-hwan intends to halt all media activities, including broadcasting." Consequently, Choi has stepped down from KBS2's 'The Return of Superman.' He played drums backstage at FT Island's recent concert in Taiwan and will not participate in the upcoming 'Grand Mint Festival 2024' on November 2.
Reporter Jiye Choi, Ten Asia wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr