His agency announced that he is halting all activities and issued an apology regarding the matter.
His name has been excluded from the lineup for the Gayo Daejeon taking place on the 25th in Incheon.
Key of SHINee has decided not to participate in the upcoming 2025 SBS Gayo Daejeon. This decision comes as part of his suspension from activities due to allegations surrounding unlawful medical practices. SBS released the final lineup poster today, which notably excluded Key's name. Recently, he became embroiled in controversy after his connection with broadcaster Park Na-rae and allegations of receiving illegal medical treatment surfaced. Following the intensifying debate, Key issued an apology and announced his decision to halt all activities. His agency SM Entertainment explained that Key initially came to know about the practitioner through a friend's recommendation and believed the treatments were legitimate without any concerns. However, following recent controversies over the practitioner's medical license, Key expressed confusion and regret for the situation. Consequently, he has opted to withdraw from all scheduled appearances, including the Gayo Daejeon on the 25th, held at Incheon Inspire Arena.
This incident reveals the complex ethical challenges that K-POP artists face. Key of SHINee being embroiled in allegations related to illegal medical practices highlights the potential impact on his star image. Fans and the public generally expect artists to uphold high moral standards, raising concerns about the potential damage to his career.
Moreover, Key's prompt apology and decision to suspend activities demonstrate his awareness of the gravity of the situation. As noted in SM Entertainment's explanation, the power of misinformation to affect an individual's life is accentuated. This serves as a warning for other artists in the industry, reminding them of the necessity to fully understand their environments and associations.
Such incidents frequently have significant repercussions on the trust between artists and their fans in the K-POP industry. Fans desire their favorite artists to follow the right path, and there is considerable interest in how Key's eventual return will unfold. Given that an artist's behavior is closely tied to their fandom's identity, higher expectations will likely be placed on him following his return.
This article is KOSTAR’s reinterpretation of a story originally reported by TVDaily.
Photo: TVDaily
