Amid accusations of offensive behavior during a fan signing event, ZEROBASEONE member Kim Ji Woong is now the target of a truck protest demanding his withdrawal.

Truck protests were staged on February 7 in front of CJ ENM and WakeOne headquarters, scheduled from 8 AM to 6 PM KST and 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM KST respectively.

Earlier, on February 2, a netizen posted a video of a video call fan signing event with Kim Ji Woong on X (previously known as Twitter). In the video, an offensive word, "ssibal (f*ck)," was heard after the fan signing event was concluded.

As the camera was obscured, the identity of the person using the offensive language was not confirmed, but the involved party claimed it was Kim Ji Woong's voice.

Subsequently, the agency WakeOne stated that, after confirming with Kim Ji Woong and on-site staff, the allegations were found to be false. The agency expressed a strong denial and vowed to use various methods, including digital media forensics, to clearly determine the truth and protect the artist.

Despite the agency's response, the fan who made the revelation faced cyberbullying. The fan posted, "I am being unjustly accused by the company of being a rumor spreader, saying everything is my fault. I feel so unfair and sad." The poster did not delete the video of the offensive language, even in the face of the agency's strong measures.

Public opinion and fans are divided on the incident. While the majority criticized Kim Ji Woong, some argue that the perpetrator of the offensive language and whether the video was manipulated are not clear. They advocate understanding the emotional labor of idols as they are also human.

The agency has not officially stated its position and, in the current situation, a crowdfunding campaign for a truck protest demanding Kim Ji Woong's withdrawal started on February 5. The one-day goal of 1.4 million won (approx. US$1,055) was achieved on the February 6, and the truck protest took place on February 7.

The truck displayed banners with messages such as, "Kim Ji Woong's (continued) activities mark the beginning of ZEROBASEONE's downfall," "We voted enthusiastically for his debut, yet now he returns the favour with cussing in our face," and "No apology, shamelessly making a second attack with all the forensic talk – Are ZEROSE criminals?"

Despite the ongoing controversy that has led to conflicts within the fandom, attention is also focused on how WakeOne, the agency, handles the situation.

What do you think about this situation?