SHINee's Taemin Apologizes for Insensitive Remarks on Earthquake Concerns

SHINee member Taemin has issued an apology.

On the 6th, Taemin took to his Instagram story to address concerns, stating, "I apologize for my careless remarks about the earthquake. I wanted to reassure worried fans but failed to fully consider the situation of those on-site and the seriousness of natural disasters."

The previous day, while in Japan for a broadcast schedule, Taemin and fellow member Minho conducted a live broadcast. During the session, the topic of the 'July Great Earthquake Theory' came up, and Taemin attempted to calm fans by saying, "It's still safe, so there's no need to worry too much."

Although the situation seemed to be resolved amicably, fans continued to express concern. Taemin then added, "I imagined scenarios like 'What if it shakes while I'm singing?', 'Would it be cool if it shook here?', and 'What if it really shakes like 3D when the excitement peaks during a dance?'"

This led to online criticism, with comments such as "Is that something you can say about a natural disaster?" and "After 17 years, you should think before you speak."

In response, Taemin once again apologized through his story, saying, "I was also very worried and relieved that it passed without major damage. I will be more cautious in my thoughts and words in the future."

Meanwhile, in Japan, anxiety is rising due to a claim in the 1999 manga 'The Future I Saw' by Tatsuki Ryo, which predicts a major disaster on July 5, 2025. The manga, based on the author's dreams, gained attention for allegedly predicting the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic.