Starship Boy Group IDID to Debut as 7-Member Team After Junhwan’s Withdrawal
Junhwan leaves IDID pre-debut due to mental distress from rumors
Park Junhwan, a member of Starship Entertainment’s upcoming boy group IDID, has voluntarily withdrawn from the group ahead of their official debut.
On June 2, Starship announced IDID Junhwan’s departure via social media. He was originally selected as a debut member of IDID through the agency’s in-house survival program, Debut’s Plan. However, shortly after his inclusion in the final lineup, unverified rumors about him began circulating online.
In an official statement, Starship denied the allegations, stating, “The rumors spreading online are completely untrue. We have verified through his complete academic records and testimonies from school officials that Junhwan was a sincere and responsible student.” They also emphasized that they had identified accounts impersonating former classmates and secured objective evidence that the claims were fabricated.
Agency cites mental health concerns and pledges legal action
Despite the agency’s defense, Starship explained that Junhwan, still a minor, had been suffering severe emotional distress due to ongoing malicious comments and false accusations. “His condition has worsened to the point of affecting his daily life. Although we sought help from medical professionals, he ultimately expressed his desire to step away from team activities, and we decided to respect his request for rest,” they stated.
The agency also pledged continued support, saying, “We will stand by Junhwan as he recovers and begins pursuing a new dream outside of IDID.”
In response to the situation, Starship also revealed its intent to take firm legal action. The agency released a handwritten apology from one of the rumor spreaders and emphasized, “Online sexual harassment and defamation of minors are serious criminal acts, and we will not tolerate them.”
As a result of Junhwan’s departure, IDID will move forward as a 7-member group. They are currently preparing for their debut album release later this year.
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