Koyote's Shinji Faces Backlash Over Marriage Announcement Amidst Controversies Surrounding Fiancé Moon Won

Shinji, a member of the popular South Korean group Koyote, has announced her engagement to singer Moon Won. However, the announcement has been overshadowed by controversies surrounding Moon, who has openly identified himself as a divorced father. This revelation has sparked a wave of online criticism, with many urging Shinji to reconsider the marriage. While Shinji remains silent, Moon has publicly denied the allegations, calling them "false," as the couple navigates a challenging path to matrimony.

Shinji's engagement news broke just two days before the release of her new single "Shalalakadula," in which Moon is featured. Fans initially celebrated the news, drawing parallels to fellow Koyote member Kim Jong-min's recent success.

Following the release of "Shalalakadula," the couple appeared together on a radio show to promote the song and share their love story. However, controversy erupted when Shinji uploaded a video titled "Who's Taking Our Shinji?" on her YouTube channel.

In the video, Moon is seen meeting with Koyote members, making light-hearted comments that some found inappropriate. Remarks such as "Isn't that just age fat?" and "I didn't know Koyote was so famous," along with his casual attire, drew criticism.

Subsequently, individuals claiming to be Moon's former classmates, ex-wife's acquaintances, and military colleagues accused him of various misdeeds, including infidelity, school bullying, military violence, and real estate fraud. This led to a flood of comments opposing Shinji's marriage on her social media and YouTube channel, with the video quickly surpassing 3 million views. The controversy even spilled over into the comments section of "Shalalakadula" on music platforms.

In the video, Shinji acknowledged the potential for concern, stating, "I expected there might be worried reactions." Some netizens criticized her decision to post the video, suggesting it overshadowed her new song's release. The focus shifted from their music to the controversy surrounding their marriage.

Moon addressed the allegations directly, admitting to marrying his ex-wife due to a premarital pregnancy but denying all other accusations. On his social media, he stated, "The claims of bullying during school and military service are completely false," and expressed willingness to provide evidence if necessary. He also clarified that while he did engage in real estate brokerage without a license, it was out of necessity during his early career.

Moon apologized to Koyote and Shinji's fans, saying, "I am sorry for the discomfort and disappointment caused by my careless words and the surrounding controversies. I deeply regret any harm caused to Shinji."

Moon's former classmates also came forward to defend him. A classmate known as A, who knew both Moon and his ex-wife, stated, "I've never heard of any infidelity," attributing the couple's separation to personality differences. Another classmate, B, refuted the bullying allegations, describing Moon as a peacemaker rather than an aggressor.

The couple plans to marry in the first half of next year. With Moon's clarifications, the online uproar has somewhat subsided. It remains to be seen if Moon can fully address the controversies and walk down the aisle with Shinji amidst smiles and support.