[Yoo Dae-gil = dbeorlf123@ajunews.com]
SEOUL -- Wanna One came under fire for rude remarks unintentionally broadcast live through a smartphone app, dealing a heavy blow to the 11-member boy group as it broke out just before its comeback.
Fans were shocked when a free talk by Wanna One members went live unfiltered through Mnet's "Star LIVE", a smartphone app which streams the video of celebrities on Monday. It was an unintended scene with no one was unaware that they were being watched.
As a broadcasting staff informed them that they were about to go live in seconds, Ha Sung-woon repeatedly hurled a volley of vulgar words. Lai Kuan-lin shouted "Daettal Gak", which means "a handjob situation" spoken in a slang style commonly used by South Korean teenagers.
Later, Wanna One apologized in a statement, "We are very sorry for disappointing you with our inappropriate action." The group's agency, YMC Entertainment, accused some people of spreading rumors too much as a fierce online debate took place.
"Although the situation seems like an accident, someone should take responsibility as the live app is widely used among young people," said LOVEONG, a user from Clien, an online community. Another user, Kaim, said: "Even though they did not realize, it was inconsiderate."
Some fans argued their backstage action should not be taken seriously. "I think their action is rude but they were at the backstage. It was just a broadcasting mistake," Jin Eun-ah, a 33-year-old businesswoman, said. "I think the vulgar words they used are normal for the boys of that age, just not in public."
Yet, Wanna One's comeback song "Boomerang", released on Monday, sits in the top five of major domestic real-time charts.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
