In a recent turn of events, an individual known as "Kim-Young from Busan" has publicly apologized to BTS V, a member of the globally renowned K-pop group BTS. This apology was prompted after HYBE, BTS's management company, initiated legal action against Kim due to the derogatory comments and unfounded rumors they spread about V on various online platforms.
Kim's apology, posted on the South Korean online forum Nate Pann, admitted to the dissemination of malicious comments about V on platforms such as Nate Pann, Yeoseong-Sidae, Soul Dresser, DC Inside's BTS and Male Idol Galleries, Twitter, and YouTube. Kim's negative perception of V was influenced by a YouTube video from 2022, which they mistakenly believed to be true. They confessed to impulsively joining the wave of online negativity against the idol after seeing others express their disdain.
Expressing deep remorse, Kim revealed their current preparations for a civil service exam and voiced concerns about how a lawsuit record could potentially jeopardize their future. They attempted to reach out to HYBE, hoping to mitigate the legal consequences. However, they were informed that any apologies would only be considered once the case reached court. Despite this, Kim made a public plea for forgiveness, promising never to engage in such behavior again.
However, the apology did not garner much sympathy from Korean netizens. Many felt that Kim was merely facing the repercussions of their actions. Some questioned the genuineness of the apology, noting its self-centered nature. Others highlighted the damage caused by hate comments and expressed their support for V.
Comments from netizens included sentiments such as, "The consequences of your actions, though. See ya," and "Even in this apology, you're only worried about yourself and your future. Why would HYBE want to forgive you?" Some also pointed out Kim's dedication to spreading hate, with one comment reading, "Had you studied as hard as you went around hurting V, you would've passed that civil service exam a thousand times already."
This incident underscores the ongoing issue of hate comments in the K-pop industry, which have a profound impact on the mental well-being of idols. As a result, management companies like HYBE are becoming increasingly proactive in taking legal measures against those responsible for such malicious behavior.
