| Screenshot of Joohoney's deleted video. Capture from Twitter account of “cactus1757” |
By Dong Sun-hwa
Joohoney, a member of K-pop boy band Monsta X, heard a racial slur at an eatery in Japan, it was revealed on his Twitter video, Sunday.
He was filming a clip of himself having a meal alone at a ramen restaurant in Japan, when a group of Japanese customers behind his back suddenly said the word “Chosenjin,” although it is unclear whether the word was aimed at the singer.
“Chosenjin” is a derogatory Japanese term meaning “people of Joseon,” the last dynasty of Korea. Joseon collapsed in 1910, and the Japanese occupation period began the same year. Therefore, for many Koreans, the word reminds them of their ancestors' suffering.
Many fans have been enraged, speculating that Joohoney must have heard the word.
“Making an insulting remark in a public place is a huge problem,” an online user commented.
A fan also wrote, “I am worried about him. He must have got hurt.”
Following the incident, the video has been deleted.
Joohoney, whose real name is Lee Joo-heon, belongs to Monsta X, the group that debuted in 2015 with the mini-album “TRESPASS.” Its flagship songs include “Dramarama.” The members are on a world tour.