Controversy has recently emerged within the K-pop community as Nana, a former member of After School, directed a pointed remark towards Sunwoo, a member of THE BOYZ. This comment followed an incident where Sunwoo allegedly failed to show adequate appreciation to a staff member who retrieved his fallen AirPods.
The situation unfolded when a video surfaced, shared by the Instagram account @nyangnyangclip, depicting Sunwoo’s reaction upon receiving his lost AirPods. Critics quickly accused the singer of lacking basic courtesy, igniting a heated debate among netizens, with some defending him.
Nana’s comment, made on April 8, 2025, quickly gained traction online. According to reports from Wikitree Korea, she stated,
“Someone needs to be scolded.”
Her remark did not go unnoticed, with many users on social media reacting strongly. One user expressed that Nana’s criticism seemed disproportionate considering more significant issues in the industry, stating,
“Nana….like there’s more problematic people in the industry but you struggle with Sunwoo for not saying thank you? Like this is weird,”commented an X user.
As discussions escalated on platforms like X, numerous voices emerged defending Sunwoo. Fans emphasized that his previous apology clarifying the situation should be sufficient. Many pointed out Nana’s comments as unnecessary, with one user stating,
“She’s an actor herself in Korea, so she should know how damaging this news is. And if it were a problem, I’m sure the staff or agency would resolve this. There have been many public cases in the past,”commented another netizen.
Context of the Incident
The uproar originated from a brief moment recorded on April 3, 2025, when Sunwoo inadvertently dropped his AirPods after finishing a schedule. As he rushed towards an elevator, a security guard retrieved the items and presented them to him. Unfortunately, the way Sunwoo received his AirPods sparked accusations of rudeness, with spectators claiming he did not properly thank the staff member.
In response, Sunwoo issued an apology via a fan communication platform on April 5, where he explained,
“I can’t explain things like this forever, but I realize that it was my fault for it to seem that way. However, I always say ‘hello’ to the people who clean up on music shows and everywhere, so I will act better so that these kinds of unfair stories don’t come up.”
This situation has raised questions about public perceptions of idols and their conduct, especially at such high-stress moments. Many fans have urged for more understanding and less harsh judgment in instances where misunderstandings may occur.
In related news, Sunwoo previously made headlines last November when an alleged sasaeng entered his residence, resulting in an assault. This history emphasizes the pressures idols face both professionally and personally, as they balance their public personas with the expectations of fans and the industry at large.