FT Island's Choi Minhwan has recently found himself at the center of a prostitution scandal, leading to his swift departure from the popular reality show “The Return of Superman.” The scandal has prompted the production team to take immediate action, including suspending the show’s VOD services and planning to delete all official videos featuring Minhwan on YouTube.

On October 29th, reports from HeraldPOP confirmed that KBS2’s “The Return of Superman” decided to remove all of Minhwan’s segments on YouTube and other online platforms. The move, according to the production team, is part of their efforts to protect the children involved in the show amid the unfolding controversy.

As of the same day, Minhwan’s segments from the show were also removed from various OTT replay services. Given the sensitive nature of the prostitution allegations, it appears that these decisions aim to shield the children from any potential negative impact. The network’s handling of Minhwan’s scandal mirrors its approach in September when episodes featuring actor Kang Kyungjun were pulled due to his infidelity controversy—again, with the intention of protecting the children featured in the show.

The scandal first came to light on October 25th, when Minhwan’s ex-wife, Yulhee, publicly disclosed details of their divorce. She revealed that Minhwan’s frequent visits to adult establishments were a significant factor in their marital breakdown. Yulhee supported her claims by releasing Minhwan's recorded conversations related to these visits, leading to Minhwan’s withdrawal from all media activities.

Meanwhile, FT Island is continuing their activities as a duo, moving forward without Minhwan amidst the unfolding scandal. The police have confirmed that they received a formal request to investigate Minhwan on potential violations of prostitution laws and are currently conducting preliminary inquiries. Reports have also indicated that sexual assault allegations are being considered in connection with the ongoing investigation.

The abrupt turn of events has left fans and viewers grappling with the fallout of Minhwan’s scandal, while the entertainment industry watches closely for further developments in the case. As the investigation proceeds, many are questioning the broader implications for KBS2’s decision-making, the responsibilities of networks, and the importance of safeguarding children involved in public-facing content.