82MAJOR’s Hwang Seong-bin Issues Apology Over Political Controversy and Rap Lyrics
On June 13, Hwang Seong-bin of boy group 82MAJOR posted a handwritten apology on the group’s official social media account, addressing recent controversies surrounding his past actions and performances.
Hwang Seong-bin began the letter with a sincere apology, stating, “First, I sincerely apologize for causing discomfort and disappointment to many people due to my past personal account activities.”
The controversy stems from Hwang Seong-bin’s past behavior on SoundCloud, where he liked a rap track that mocked former South Korean President Moon Jae-in, as well as from his recent on-stage rap performance, in which he made an insensitive remark to a fellow member: “Are you going to become an independence fighter?”—a line referencing the member’s runs on Memorial Day (6.6 km) and Liberation Day (8.15 km).
Addressing the SoundCloud incident, Hwang Seong-bin explained, “When I was just starting out with music as a student, I listened to an artist’s song and, out of simple interest, liked their new releases. However, acting without fully understanding the messages and meanings behind those songs was clearly my shortcoming, and looking back, it was very careless.”
Regarding the offensive concert rap, he acknowledged, “The rap was intended to highlight a member’s unique traits, but I failed to consider the weight of the words used, causing discomfort in the process.”
He went on to express regret to fans and supporters, saying, “I sincerely apologize to the fans who supported me and those who cherished our team for letting you down. As a singer, I feel deeply ashamed, and I realize the great responsibility that comes with my words and actions. I will take this as an opportunity to reflect deeply, think carefully, and act more cautiously in the future.”
Hwang Seong-bin concluded his letter by bowing his head in apology, “Once again, I sincerely bow my head in apology to everyone who felt uncomfortable because of this incident. I am truly sorry.”
