SHINee's Taemin Apologizes for Insensitive Remarks Amid Japan Earthquake Prediction Concerns

SHINee's Taemin has issued an apology following remarks he made during a live broadcast that were deemed insensitive by fans concerned about a predicted earthquake in Japan.

On July 5, Taemin traveled to Japan to participate in 'Show! Music Core in Japan' and hosted a live broadcast. At the time, a manga predicting a major earthquake on July 5 had gained global attention, causing both domestic and international fans to worry about Taemin's safety. Japanese fans also expressed their concerns.

During the live broadcast, Taemin mentioned the prediction, saying, "There's a prophecy, but it's really safe right now, so you don't need to worry," aiming to reassure fans.



Fellow member Minho, who was also on the broadcast, asked, "Who was worried about that?" Taemin replied, "I imagined what would happen if I was singing and everything started shaking. Would it look cool if it shook here? When 'IDEA' reaches its climax, it would really shake. Fireworks and flames would burst like 3D."

Minho responded, "I've never thought about that," to which Taemin added, "I actually thought nothing would happen. Of course, I hope it doesn't. Talking about it like this means it won't happen."

However, as the remarks sparked controversy and concern among some fans, Taemin quickly posted an apology on his social media.



Taemin apologized, saying, "I spoke lightly about the earthquake while trying to reassure worried fans, and I apologize for that. I reflect on not fully considering the situation of those in Japan and the seriousness of natural disasters."

He continued, "I was also very worried and am relieved that it passed without major damage. I will be more careful with my words and thoughts in the future," expressing that his remarks stemmed from a place of concern.

Netizens reacted with comments like, "Many Japanese fans live in fear due to earthquake predictions," "If something had happened, he would have regretted it the most," and "It's good he apologized quickly."

However, debate continues over the fact that Taemin's apology was posted using the 24-hour disappearing story feature on SNS. Opinions among netizens vary, with some saying, "It's strange to post it on an official channel when it happened during a personal live broadcast," "As long as the sincerity was conveyed, that's what matters," and "The sincerity of the apology is lacking."

Photo = Xportsnews DB, Taemin, Minho

This article was originally published in Korean on Xportsnews and was translated into English using AI.

by Oh Seunghyun