ZEROBASEONE's Leader Sung Han-bin Apologizes for Controversial Remarks on YouTube Show

Sung Han-bin, the leader of the K-pop group ZEROBASEONE, has issued an apology following backlash over his remarks on the YouTube show 'Kkondaehee'.

On the 6th, comedian Kim Dae-hee's YouTube channel 'Kkondaehee' uploaded a video titled '[EN] [Let's Eat] Wanting to See ZEROBASEONE to One Hundred with Chicken and Waffles (feat. Matthew, Han-bin)'. The video featured Sung Han-bin and Seok Matthew from ZEROBASEONE engaging in conversation with Kim Dae-hee.

During the show, Seok Matthew shared an anecdote, saying, "Han-bin makes a sound every time he goes over a speed bump." Initially, Sung Han-bin feigned ignorance, but after persistent questioning from Seok Matthew and Kim Dae-hee, he reenacted the situation, saying, "Doesn't it hurt your butt when you go over a speed bump too hard?" He then mimicked sounds in a female voice.

He continued, "I've let it all go. Since I'm on 'Kkondaehee', I'll do it properly," and reenacted the situation again, this time saying "Yummy" in a female voice. Sung Han-bin then expressed surprise at Seok Matthew for bringing up the story.

While the filming passed with laughter, the video sparked discomfort among some viewers upon its release. Online communities and social media saw negative reactions, with comments like "His awareness of gender sensitivity is surprisingly low," "I'm speechless," and "This is sexual harassment." Given his typically upright and diligent image, the disappointment was more pronounced, with some interpreting the remarks as potentially sexually harassing.

Conversely, some netizens defended him, saying, "Sung Han-bin initially tried to hide it but eventually did his best to fit the situation," and criticized the production team and agency for not editing out the segment.

As the controversy grew, Sung Han-bin apologized through a fan communication platform. He reflected, "I went too far on 'Kkondaehee'. There was no other intention, and I was overly eager for airtime." He added, "If any ZEROs (fan club name) were uncomfortable, I'm truly sorry. I'll work on improving my speaking skills."

Lee So-jung, Ten Asia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr