Entertainment
SEVENTEEN star Mingyu takes break from the group as Pledis Entertainment addresses ‘bullying’ claims
SEVENTEEN star Mingyu is stepping back from activities with the K-pop group amid accusations of school bullying.
Pledis confirmed that the star is taking a break from SEVENTEEN, and has since released a further statement explaining they are looking into the new claims which were shared online, dating back to Mingyu’s time in primary and secondary school.
The new statement, released on Sunday in Korean and English, shared there was ‘certain discrepancies between the information posted online and what we were able to verify from the artist.’.
The agency added that some of those who made the accusations do not wish to be contacted, meaning they are ‘compelled to proceed with caution’, however they remain ‘willing’ to have a meeting.
It went on: ‘With the continued surfacing of school violence-related issues across our society, our company determined that a clear verification of the facts must take priority, and we are carefully examining all the issues. We would like to apologise that this process has delayed our response.’
Pledis continued: ‘Our company is carefully examining the other issues. However, as identifying the original posters of the allegations is difficult, and as some posters have expressed the desire not to be contacted, we are compelled to proceed with caution.
‘We believe that the issue of school violence, a serious problem today, must be considered foremost from the victim’s point of view. However, in addition to the victim’s perspectives, we determined that measures must be carried out after the facts of the issues have been clearly verified.’
Pledis went on to apologise to SEVENTEEN’s fanbase, called CARAT, and said that the statement ‘is not an indication that we consider this issue to be resolved’.
It continued: ‘Meeting those who have spoken out that they have been harmed, and verifying the facts and ensuring that they can be healed is the most important. In addition, please understand that we cannot consider any decision that may impact the entire life of the artist lightly and without verifying the facts.
‘We promise that if any wrongdoing is found after this process, we will take clear and necessary measures.
‘Once again, please allow us to offer our apology in causing discomfort due to issues related to our artist.’
SEVENTEEN is made up of 13 members: S.coups, Wonwoo, Mingyu, Vernon, Hoshi, Jun, The8, Dino, Woozi, Jeonghan, Joshua, DK, Seungkwan.
In January this year they performed their comeback Left & Right on The Kelly Clarkson Show.
Pledis Entertainment’s statement comes amid a spate of school bullying accusations concerning K-pop idols in recent weeks.
Most recently it was announced that Stray Kids star Hyunjin would be taking a break from the group in the wake of allegations of school bullying.
Hyunjin shared a hand written letter on Instagram apologising ‘to those who were hurt by my improper actions during my school years.’
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