Stray Kids’ Bang Chan apologizes for his remarks in his recent live stream

Stray Kids’ leader Bang Chan has apologized for his comments about the behavior of younger K-Pop idols that indirectly show ‘disrespect.’

In the May 14 episode of his weekly live stream titled, “Chan’s Room,” Bang Chan was asked “How was ‘Music Bank in Paris?,’” and he later on talked about his experience at Music Bank in Paris, which happened in early April of this year.

While reminiscing about his memories with Stray Kids and sharing the stage “with a lot of great artists” during the event, he also touched on some of the generational differences he had noticed in younger K-Pop idols.

In English, he said, “I don’t know, I might sound like a boomer. Because generations are different, and I know that as well. But I feel like it’s come to the point where greeting someone is not considered as basic manners…Because you know, if you see someone walk by, and you say hi, but then, if they don’t reply back, it’d be like, ‘What the…? Okay…’ But I feel like it’s come to the point where this generation is allowed to do that. [To] just not care…because there were a few scenarios where that would happen.”

Bang Chan had explained that he was first surprised when some of his hoobaes didn’t greet him back, but later said that he might just be over-exaggerating or overthinking, or “Maybe I’m just a boomer.”

In Korean culture, greeting etiquette is very much important and younger people or those lower in position bows to someone older or with a higher position. For this reason, it’s highly likely that Bang Chan felt a culture shock when the younger K-Pop idols didn’t greet him back.

The Stray Kids’ rapper didn’t mention any names in his live stream, but it led numerous K-Pop fans to speculate names and guess who that idol might have been. It also led to some backlash towards Bang Chan.

On May 17, 2023, Bang Chan posted an apology for his remarks and to clarify that the idol mentioned in the speculations made online wasn’t the person he was referring to.

“Hello, this is Bang Chan from Stray Kids.

I apologize for the offense caused by the comments I made during a recent live broadcast.

I thought about the impact my words and behavior can have on others, and have deeply reflected on myself.

I would like to mention that it was not my intention to specify a certain artist, and that my comments had nothing to do with the artist being mentioned currently.

I would like to express my deepest apologies to the artist who has been hurt by my careless words. I sincerely apologize.

I will be more cautious of what I say in order to ensure this does not happen again.

Once again, I sincerely apologize.”

Stays quickly flocked to social media to defend Bang Chan, and commented as well on how “unreal” it felt to see someone apologize for pointing out how manners are important. Some also pointed out how other senior K-Pop artists have also voiced out their opinion on the same issue.

 

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