NCT's Yuta conducted a live video feed and confirmed becoming close friends with a YouTuber called Rhee-Kun.
He said, "I'm close to that too these days, not sure if you're aware of him. Rhee-Kun is a YouTuber. Lately, I have been close to him. Indeed, we met yesterday."
An uproar arose since Rhee-Kun's new friend is renowned for having Anti-Korean and Misogynistic contents on his channel. Looking at his YouTube and social networking sites accounts, one look reveals what kind of material he prefers to get exposed to.
One photo resurfaces online from the said YouTuber with a caption, "I am here to participate in a protest." With a poster on his hand saying, "Moon Jae In has completely ruined the economy Park Geunhye managed to save!" The protest photo is just a thumbnail leading to one of his uploaded YouTube videos that has a content of "How to have sex with a beautiful Korean lady who has done plastic surgery." (via Koreaboo)
Many of its contents are derogatory and provocative, involving anti-Korea/pro-Japan topics, insensitive women materials, and the use of identities of Sulli and Jonghyun celebrities as click-bait titles. This horrified fans since these two were indeed Yuta 's label-mates.
Although the aforementioned live broadcast has now been removed due to public backlash, this particular subject has been a massive issue in the K-pop fan community. Because of past conflict between the two countries, this subject is a touchy matter for Koreans.
Yuta speaking on a live telecast about his friendship with the named YouTuber is something that the Korean community would not take lightly. Though none have been verified, rumors say the said YouTuber is Korean and is also an accused sexual offender.
The fans have also noticed that Yuta is only following nine accounts on his Instagram account, including the controversial YouTuber Rhee-Kun. While several K-pop fans are furious and have demanded an apology about the issue, others are awaiting the company's official explanation and resolution.
Non-Korean fans understand why Korean fans are upset, but they believe that removal from the band and other disparaging comments about him is inappropriate. Supporters have also generated an email template to submit to the idol's managing label, hoping for an explanation and admission of guilt regarding the issue.
