“We will respond with strict legal measures”— JYP responds to calls for DAY6's Dowoon to leave the group

DAY6's Dowoon recently became embroiled in online controversy following the posting of an Instagram reel in which he performed on the drums while wearing military gear. The K-pop idol's video, shared on December 5, incited criticisms from netizens particularly due to the recent unrest in South Korea. The Instagram reel posted by DAY6’s Dowoon has been deleted at the time of this article's writing.

For those unaware, on December 3, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol unexpectedly enacted martial law, which was rescinded within six hours. This action triggered widespread demonstrations throughout the nation. Consequently, DAY6's Dowoon video elicited significant criticism from the online community, calling for his expulsion from the group.

On December 9, JYP Entertainment finally released an official statement in support of their artist via jypfans.com. In their statement, the company said:

“Recently, false information regarding DAY6 member Dowoon has been indiscriminately spread and reproduced. In response, our company intends to take a firm stance against the creation and malicious dissemination of baseless rumors about DAY6 and its members.”

The agency explained that a significant portion of the information circulating concerning Dowoon was erroneous and emphasized their commitment to resolutely tackle the matter. The statement reaffirmed the company's position in favor of DAY6's Dowoon:

“Even after this notice, if such actions—such as spreading false information, amplifying rumors, or reproducing them without basis—continue to harm the honor and dignity of our artists, we will respond with strict legal measures. We are fully committed to protecting our artists and reiterate that we will take all available legal action without any leniency or settlement.”

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DAY6's Dowoon’s removal was demanded in an online statement allegedly posted by the group’s fans

On December 8, 2024, an X user, @dowoonout, criticized the musician for alleged insensitivity after he shared a video of himself practicing drums in military-style pants.

The viral statement, allegedly posted by DAY6’s fandom MY DAY, demanded Dowoon’s withdrawal from the K-pop group because of his military uniform controversy. Firstly, the statement mentioned the background and severity of the problem, which was followed by their demands. The severity was described as:

“The video of Dowoon wearing a military uniform deals with a sensitive topic currently and is considered an action that lacks responsibility as a public figure. With the current situation, filming in a military uniform can be seen as an act of betrayal of trust to the fans and the public. This has also hurt the group’s reputation, leaving many fans disappointed. This is not just an individual mistake, as it can expand to group criticism.”

The letter additionally outlined three demands surrounding DAY6's Dowoon. First, it urged JYP Entertainment to issue an official statement concerning Dowoon's controversy. The second request was Dowoon's departure from the group, accompanied by a strategy for rehabilitating the group's image and preserving members' trust.

Finally, the letter indicated that the idol should comprehend the responsibilities inherent to their status as a public figure and implement internal management strategies to avert the recurrence of similar incidents.

Notwithstanding the statement's lofty assertions, it achieved negligible engagement, receiving merely a few likes. Numerous fans regarded it as an overstated reaction from a person rather than an authentic reflection of the fandom.

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On December 9, JYP released an official statement to back DAY6's Dowoon.