Xdinary Heroes Jun Han Apologizes for “Combining the Strengths of Each Race” Comment, Faces Eugenics Backlash
JYP Entertainment band Xdinary Heroes member Jun Han has sparked backlash for comments that many interpreted as supporting eugenics, leading to a public apology and a statement from his agency, JYP Entertainment. His remarks about “combining the strengths of different races” during a fan interaction triggered intense criticism online, with netizens questioning the underlying implications.
On June 29, Jun Han issued an apology via Xdinary Heroes’ official social media:
“I sincerely apologize for causing great hurt and discomfort to many people with my careless remarks.”
He continued:
“I now realize that my comments reflected a biased perspective. I deeply reflect on my lack of historical and social awareness, and I apologize once again to everyone who was hurt or offended. I will continue learning so I can act with better understanding moving forward.
This incident has taught me to be more cautious and responsible in my words and actions.”
Controversial Bubble Comments Trigger Outrage
The controversy began when Jun Han, while chatting with a fan on a private platform, made the following remarks about genetics and racial traits:
“Oh, molecular fragments and PCR sound so fascinating. I’ll try to think of a bunch of innocent, silly questions.
With gene amplification technology, is it possible to amplify only the ‘good’ genes to cure illnesses?
I’ve heard that Black people have more ear cells and better hearing, which is why they’re good at music. I was really jealous of that.
Is that sort of thing possible?”
He followed with:
“Combining the strengths of each race… like the sugar metabolism ability of white people, the physical prowess of Black people, and the intelligence of East Asians or Indians.
Well… this is technically stem cell research, and it’s already happening. The ethical concerns are the issue.
If someone thinks it’s wrong, they don’t have to do it. Those who want to, can look into it themselves.
Of course, doing it without permission is unacceptable — that’s disrespectful.”
These statements were met with strong criticism, with many calling them reminiscent of eugenic ideologies. Eugenics, popularized by British anthropologist Francis Galton, promotes preserving “superior” genes while eliminating “inferior” ones—a concept widely condemned for its ethical implications.
JYP Entertainment Issues Statement Following Public Outcry
After Jun Han’s apology, JYP Entertainment also released an official statement:
“We sincerely apologize to everyone hurt by Jun Han’s careless comments on the fan platform. He is taking this issue very seriously and deeply regrets his unthoughtful remarks.”
They added:
“We acknowledge our shortcomings in artist education and take full responsibility.
We will make every effort to educate our artists more thoroughly on social sensitivity and appropriate communication so they can present mature values going forward.”
Full Apology from Xdinary Heroes Jun Han
Hello, this is Jun Han of Xdinary Heroes.
First of all, I sincerely apologize for causing great hurt and discomfort to many people due to my careless remarks.
I now realize that my comments reflected a biased viewpoint, and I am deeply reflecting on this.
I sincerely apologize again to all those who were hurt or offended by my lack of historical understanding, social awareness, and sensitivity. I will strive to act based on proper knowledge through continuous learning and self-improvement.
This incident has made me realize the importance of being cautious and responsible with every word and action.
Once again, I offer my sincere apologies.
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