After the news of his upcoming marriage broke, Highlight's Dongwoon took to YouTube on July 6 to connect with his fans and offer an apology. 

To address any concerns or anger his engagement might have caused, the sincere idol expressed regret for his delayed greeting and nervousness during the live session. 

He admitted to feeling anxious about the potential misinterpretation of his written words and chose to do a live broadcast, in order to convey his thoughts and stories more accurately. Dongwoon sincerely apologized, acknowledging that the sudden news of his marriage may have caused his fans distress and confusion, preventing them from sleeping or eating properly. He empathized with their feelings and recognized the need for some time to process the news.

Furthermore, Dongwoon expressed his remorse for burdening his fellow Highlight members and fans. He acknowledged the weight his decision had placed on them and extended a heartfelt apology. He assured everyone that he would strive to do his best and appreciated the messages he had received, emphasizing that he was taking time to reflect on them.

While some fans have criticized Dongwoon for not reading a prepared letter as part of his apology, others expressed concerns that his marriage might disrupt Highlight's upcoming comeback activities.

However, Korean netizens on various media portals, including Naver and Nate, are defending the idol as they are criticizing his fans and wondering if his marriage news is something to apologize about. They commented, "Getting married is something to be sorry about? I don't know...geez," "If they're his true fans, they need to congratulate him," "He didn't deceive his fans, or overtly showed that he's dating through social media, it's not a shotgun wedding, and he's not even leaving the team to get married. I don't know why he has to apologize for getting married. Does his fans expect him not to get married until he retires?" "Why is he apologizing? His fans shouldn't get married too then and live alone for the rest of their lives," "They're crossing the line," and "He's already 30 something. He's at a good age to get married. It's not like he committed adultery or something why does he need to apologize."

Meanwhile, Highlight's agency, Around US Entertainment, confirmed that Dongwoon would actively continue promoting as a member of the group even after his marriage.