ZEROBASEONE’s Sung Han-bin Issues Apology After Controversial Remark

Group ZEROBASEONE’s Sung Han-bin has come under fire after making an ill-judged adult joke, causing a significant blow to his carefully crafted image.

On the 6th, Sung Han-bin appeared alongside fellow member Seok Matthew on comedian Kim Dae-hee’s YouTube channel, 'Kkondaehee.' The duo joined the show to promote their first full-length album, NEVER SAY NEVER, which was released on the 1st.

During the episode, Seok Matthew shared an anecdote about their group dynamic, saying, “Han-bin always has this clean-cut image, but whenever we go for a drive, he makes a strange sound every time we go over a speed bump.”

Sung Han-bin responded, “When you go over a speed bump too hard, doesn’t it hurt your butt? Among ourselves, we have this meme to make each other laugh. When we hit a bump, I go, ‘Euut’.” He then imitated a woman’s voice, making a moaning sound that sparked laughter on set.



He continued, “Since we’re on Kkondaehee, I’ll try this once,” and then, in a high-pitched voice, said “Yummy,” before adding, “I’ve let go now.”

After the video was released, online viewers quickly voiced their discomfort and criticism, with comments such as, “Is he sexualizing women? This is too much,” “It’s not even funny, just unpleasant,” and “Disappointed that this is considered a meme among ZEROBASEONE members.”

As the controversy grew, Sung Han-bin took to the fan communication platform Bubble to apologize, writing, “Ah… I went too far on Kkondaehee. I had no other intention, but maybe I was too eager for airtime,” and continued, “If any Zerose (the fandom name) felt uncomfortable, I sincerely apologize. I’m sorry. I’ll work on expressing myself better. – Sung Han-bin.”

However, the backlash did not subside easily. Fans and netizens pointed out that attributing his actions merely to “wanting more airtime” or “lack of eloquence” missed the mark.



Ultimately, on the 7th, Sung Han-bin issued a second, more formal apology. He stated, “I am sorry for the careless words and actions in the 'Kkondaehee' video that made people uncomfortable. After experiencing this incident, I needed some time to reflect before speaking up. I’ve thought a lot about how much more careful I need to be with my words and actions and about the kind of person I want to become.”

He added, “At the time, I was nervous and didn’t think deeply before using such an inappropriate expression. I had no intention whatsoever, but I now realize that my lack of awareness and thoughtlessness could hurt others, and I feel nothing but shame and regret.”

ZEROBASEONE, the group Sung Han-bin belongs to, was formed through Mnet’s Boys Planet in 2023 as a project group with a fixed contract period of two years and six months. With their contract expiration approaching and discussions of possible renewal underway, Sung Han-bin’s careless remarks have sparked concern not only for his personal reputation but also for the group’s overall image.

Photo Credit: Xportsnews, Kkondaehee YouTube Channel, Bubble

This article is a translated version of the original Korean article published by Xportsnews, originally written by Myung Heesuk. This article was translated from Korean using AI-assisted tools and human review to deliver an accurate and culturally appropriate version for international readers.