Lovelyz's Jin warns she'll take legal action against malicious comments

Jin of girl group Lovelyz [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Jin of girl group Lovelyz warned she would take legal measures against hate comments after coming under the fire for uploading a video on the subject of how K-pop idols date on Sunday.

The singer, a 26-year-old member of girl group Lovelyz whose real name is Park Myung-eun, uploaded a video on her YouTube channel titled "I'll quench all your curiosities" where she spoke about how K-pop singers date each other.

"It doesn't matter how busy or tired you are — people who date will date," she said in the video. "If it's been a few years since you've debuted and your dating isn't going to be a huge problem, then the agency doesn't seem to interfere much either. But there are trainees that get kicked out because they date."

Many singers meet in waiting rooms for television music programs or entertainment shows, according to Jin.

"We always have to go around giving out CDs on the first week of comeback, so we say hi to each other then or when we're thanking the producer after the show," she said. "[MBC's] 'Idol Star Athletics Championships' is famed as the place for get-togethers for idols. We exchange looks or notes with our numbers on them."

Soon after, the singer was bombarded with vicious messages from online users that read, "We didn't want to know," "You're ruining the reputation of other idols" and "You're generalizing a very personal experience."

Jin took down the video and apologized for making viewers feel uncomfortable. But when comments continued, she issued a warning.

"I am reporting all the derogatory comments, posts and messages on Instagram and I'm collecting evidence," the singer said. "If you have any related evidence, please send it to my email."

Jin debuted in 2013 as a solo singer and then made her second debut as a part of eight-member girl group Lovelyz. The band has been on a virtual break since 2021 when none of the members renewed their contracts with Woollim Entertainment.

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]