Who is Park Jun-hwan? 'NewKids' finalist makes 'IDID' debut as bullying and deepfake claims surface

Rookie idol Park Jun-hwan, who secured his spot in Starship Entertainment's upcoming boy group IDID through the survival show 'Debut's Plan: NewKids', is facing serious allegations from individuals claiming to be his former classmates. As the controversy escalated, the hashtag #ParkJunhwan_OUT began trending on X (formerly Twitter) on May 19, 2025, with netizens demanding his removal from the group.

[?] #???_DID
?????! IDID ??????!?
?? ??? ????? ???? ?? ???? ??, ?? ?? ????? ? ????.
????? ??? ?? ?? ???, ??? ?? ??? ???? ? ? ??? ??? ???????!
?? ??? ?? ??? ???? ??!¡­ pic.twitter.com/M8u2it9umj

¡ª IDID (@IDID_starship) May 18, 2025

Accusations surface online

Park Jun-hwan has been accused of misogynistic behavior and inappropriate conduct during his school days. Several users shared screenshots and messages, alleging that he made disrespectful comments about women, engaged in troubling relationships, and was involved in creating fake photos of female classmates.

As the outrage grew on X, many noticed that several accounts either disappeared overnight or were deactivated. Some users speculated that Starship Entertainment may be involved, and pointed to Park Jun-hwan's allegedly powerful family as the reason he debuted despite ranking low on the survival show, while other more talented trainees were not selected.

Now, one user on X has posted a detailed thread explaining the situation and stressing the need to keep him away from female idols ¡ª especially rookie girl group KiiiKiii which is under the same company and includes minors. The user argued that he should not be in close proximity to them.

who is park junhwan and why he needs to be banned from the industry ; a thread pic.twitter.com/pnaHO6Me2Z

¡ª lai | PARK WONBIN PR (@mynewkids) May 20, 2025

Fans sent wreaths

Some fans even took their outrage offline by sending funeral wreaths to Starship Entertainment's headquarters ¡ª a powerful protest method in Korea symbolizing disappointment and disapproval.

While protestors clarified that the wreaths were not meant as threats, they expressed deep frustration over the idol's inclusion in the group. Many others joined the call, urging Starship to take immediate action.

No official statement yet

Despite the growing backlash, Starship Entertainment has yet to issue an official statement. The silence from the company has only intensified criticism, with some netizens accusing the label of failing to support the victims and protect the group¡¯s image.

About IDID's pre-debut promotions

IDID is an eight-member boy group formed through Debut's Plan, includes members Kim Min-jae, Jang Yong-hoon, Baek Joon-hyuk, Park Won-bin, Chu Yu-chan, Jung Se-min, Park Jun-hwan, and Park Seong-hyun. The group is currently gearing up for their official debut in the second half of 2025.

[?] #IDID_IT
IDID #???? ?? ???

???? #???CROWN ??? ????? ??? ??? ??????
??? ?? ???? ??????#IDID #??? pic.twitter.com/GqwjeiZU4m

¡ª IDID (@IDID_starship) May 18, 2025

Their pre-debut track CROWN, which celebrates overcoming hardships, has already been performed on major music shows like M Countdown, Music Bank, Show! Music Core, and SBS Inkigayo. Fans praised the group's powerful stage presence and choreography, building excitement for their debut.

As pre-debut promotions continue, the controversy surrounding Park Jun-hwan continues to cast a shadow over the group¡¯s momentum, with mounting pressure on Starship Entertainment to address the growing backlash and protect the remaining members ahead of their official debut.

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