What Led to Kim Gun-woo’s Hiatus from ALPHA DRIVE ONE? A Deep Dive into the Controversy

ALPHA DRIVE ONE’s Kim Geon-woo / Photo=DB

[Sports Today reporter Jung Ye-won] Kim Geon-woo of boy band ALPHA DRIVE ONE (AD1) will suspend activities.

On April 8, agency WakeOne issued an official statement apologizing for the delayed response and accepting responsibility for failing to ensure its artists met basic professional standards.

WakeOne addressed the remarks about Kim that circulated online, saying the incident took place on the set during a pre-debut content shoot. The agency said Kim did not realize his microphone was on and muttered inappropriate language. WakeOne emphasized the comments were not directed at a specific person and were made as muttered, self-directed remarks.

The agency added that, regardless of intent, the language was inappropriate. WakeOne apologized to the production staff and fans who may have been uncomfortable, noting that Kim apologized to the production team immediately after the incident. At the time, the company considered the matter resolved through direct communication and chose not to make a public statement to avoid placing additional burden on the production team. WakeOne says the situation became more complicated when false allegations began circulating online, and verifying those claims delayed a public response.

The statement also asserted that other allegations currently circulating online are untrue and urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information. WakeOne said Kim is reflecting deeply on the incident and, after discussions with the agency, has decided to take time for self-reflection. He will not participate in upcoming activities or the fan concert. ALPHA DRIVE ONE will continue promotions for the time being as a 7-member group without Kim Geon-woo.

The controversy follows earlier reports that Kim made inappropriate remarks to staff while fulfilling scheduled duties. The agency had not publicly commented on the matter for some time.

▲Full text of WakeOne’s official statement follows.

Hello, this is WakeOne.

First, we sincerely apologize to the fans who love and support ALPHA DRIVE ONE for the delay in issuing this statement.

Our company is responsible for supporting our artists so they can focus on their work in a stable environment, and for managing them to meet the basic standards of conduct required of public figures. We accept full responsibility for failing to fulfill that duty.

We would like to clarify the facts regarding the remarks by Kim Geon-woo that have circulated online. The incident occurred during a content shoot before the group’s debut. At the time, Kim did not realize his microphone was on and expressed displeasure using inappropriate language. Those remarks were not intended as insults or personal attacks directed at a specific individual; they were muttered to himself.

Nevertheless, the remarks were inappropriate in any context. We apologize again to the on-site staff who may have felt uncomfortable and to fans who were distressed by this matter.

Kim apologized to the production team immediately after the incident, and we judged the matter to be resolved through mutual communication. We also decided not to issue a separate public statement at that time to avoid causing additional burden to the production team. However, after the incident, numerous false allegations began circulating online, and the process of verifying those claims took time, which delayed our public response.

Aside from this incident, the other allegations currently being circulated online are not true. We ask that people refrain from spreading unverified information. Nonetheless, our failure to provide a prompt explanation was a clear lapse in judgment on our part.

Kim Geon-woo is reflecting deeply on this matter. After discussions with the company, he has decided to take time for self-reflection. Therefore, Kim will not participate in upcoming activities or the fan concert. ALPHA DRIVE ONE will operate as a 7-member group for the time being, excluding Kim Geon-woo. Please understand that broadcasts and some content filmed and produced before his suspension may still be released according to the scheduled dates.

We are reviewing our communication practices both internally and externally and reexamining our artist management system. We will thoroughly address the shortcomings, strengthen our standards and management procedures, and improve our response processes so we can provide faster, more responsible guidance in the future. We will also continue to enhance training and support for our artists to prevent similar incidents from recurring.

ALPHA DRIVE ONE is a team working toward a shared dream. As the agency, we will work to ensure every member can perform in a stable environment. We ask for the continued support and interest of our fans.

Sincerely, WakeOne

[Sports Today reporter Jung Ye-won ent@stoo.com]
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