Update with Yun Seo Bin's apology (Check the last part of this article).
JYP Entertainment announced on May 8 that they have terminated their contract with trainee Yun Seo Bin, who also has to leave the stage of Mnet's idol survival series 'Produce X 101', where he was the No.1 spot winner until the negtive rumors came out.
JYP Entertainment made this decision due to the reports claiming that Yun Seo Bin was involved in severe bullying, underage drinking, and underage smoking when he was in elementary and middle school.
JYP Entertainment stated that the company believes its values were not upheld and decided to terminate their contract with Yun Seo Bin, “As a result, [Yun Seo Bin] will also be leaving [‘Produce X 101’].”
The Full official statement reads as follows:
"Hello. This is JYP Entertainment. We would like to relay our position about trainee Yoon Seobin.
JYP Entertainment has decided to terminate our trainee contract with Yoon Seobin, who was appearing on Mnet’s Produce X 101 as we believe he did not behave in line with company policy. As a result, we are also announcing he will leave the program."
Mnet also confirmed that Yoon Seobin is kicked out of 'Produce X 101', and the company will edit him out to the best of their ability on future episodes that have already been recorded.
"Yoon Seo Bin will drop out of Produce X 101. We plan on minimizing Yoon Seobin’s exposure on the episodes that have already been filmed so the other trainees who appeared together with him will not be put at a disadvantage," announced Mnet.
Previous reports said an anonymous writer claimed: “Yoon Byung Hwi” was Yoon Seobin’s real name prior to changing it, "Yoon Byung Hwi was infamous in the City of Gwangju. Everyone who is my age probably knows about him. He was a known bully since his middle school days. It was a part of his daily life to pick on other students… If this isn’t true, I’m ready to be sued."
Furthermore, following this post going viral, some pictures showing a male student in school uniform engaging in underage smoking and drinking were released. The student is allegedly Yoon Seo Bin.
Yoon Seo Bin has apologized for the controversy surrounding his ignominious past.
"It is true I played a lot during my school days. I continue to reflect upon myself in this respect. I am very sorry towards JYP Entertainment and the Produce X 101 staff for the situation.
I didn't change my name and drop out of school to renew my identity. (My name) has always been difficult to pronounce and my parents were told that it was not a good name by a fortune teller so that's why I changed it.
Also, I dropped out of school because when I was in my 2nd year of high school and signed as a trainee under a different company, it was too difficult to go back and forth between Gwangju and Seoul.
I'm sorry. Regardless of the reason, it is my fault for making this situation and I am sorry. But there is no record of any school violence in my school's student record. I haven't received any calls demanding an apology (from those affected after the broadcast) but I am sorry.
I am sorry for causing a big controversy when I am only a trainee. I am back in my hometown but I can't go online and I can't meet anyone. I can't do anything because I feel like the public will not see me in a good light no matter what I do. I'm simply sorry towards everyone."
