Top Gen 5 Male Idols Face the Internet’s Judgment: Kissing, Smoking, and Middle Fingers?
A viral post titled “5th-Gen Male Idol Alliance” on Korean online forum Pann has ignited intense discussion among K-pop fans, racking up over 81,000 views and hundreds of comments. The post highlights past controversies involving several rising male idols from the 5th generation, drawing both criticism and debate over public expectations placed on young celebrities.
The idols singled out include:
- Seunghan (RIIZE), who was allegedly photographed kissing someone presumed to be his girlfriend, a moment that sparked heated discourse around dating and privacy for idols.
- Leehan (BOYNEXTDOOR), shown in a photo where he was allegedly smoking during high school, raising concerns about behavior before debut.
- Dohoon (TWS), whose old photo reportedly features him raising his middle finger as a teen, a gesture some netizens viewed as inappropriate.
Sarcastically dubbed a “problematic boy group alliance,” the post reignited long-standing tensions over how much weight should be given to idols’ pre-debut actions. While some commenters expressed disappointment or concern, others defended Dohoon’s case, pointing out that such youthful mistakes are not uncommon and should not define their careers.
Comments on Pann:
- “I get the others, but Dohoon? He’s getting dragged just for flipping the finger???”
- “Dohoon’s case is weak.”
- “Leave Dohoon out of this.”
- “The first one is way too strong (in comparison).”
- “#mood #fyp #04 #BOYNEXTDOOR #Leehan”
- “RIIZE Eunseok’s fans, don’t try to manipulate the top comments with 21 different accounts on this post.”
This incident underscores the ongoing scrutiny idols face, even for actions from their youth, and has reignited broader discussions about forgiveness, context, and the weight of pre-debut history in the K-pop industry. As fans and critics clash over the boundaries of accountability, the line between transparency and witch-hunting remains hotly contested.
