Seventeen's Wonwoo is facing backlash for his past malicious comments about Girls' Generation.

The controversy began after Wonwoo shared a message on Instagram. On October 29, the Seventeen member wrote in an Instagram post, "Being a celebrity is not a job where one has to endure until the point of death. I hope people don't look down on idols. Please stop giving wounds you can't take responsibility for." He then responded to a comment left by Seventeen member Seungkwan, saying, "I hope the world becomes filled with warmth like Seungkwan said." Though his fellow group members left supportive comments on his post, Wonwoo's words were criticized by some netizens.

According to reports, Wonwoo had previously posted multiple derogatory comments about Girls' Generation's appearance and character during his middle school days. Some of these posts included malicious captures and edited images as well as blunt insults like "trash of the music industry." In response to ongoing criticism about his past comments on Girls' Generation after Seventeen's debut, Wonwoo eventually posted a handwritten apology on the official fan cafe in 2016, admitting he had underestimated the impact of his words.

Knowing this past, many netizens reacted coldly to Wonwoo's recent comment. Opinions expressed, "He contributed to the lack of warmth," and "Wonwoo doesn’t have the right to say that." Some suggested that if he truly reflected on his actions, he should refrain from commenting in such situations. On the other hand, some netizens argued, "It was an immature action at the time, and the criticism is excessive," and "He even posted an apology; leave him alone."

Currently, opinions among netizens about Wonwoo’s comment are divided. Meanwhile, a recent leak of internal documents from HYBE, detailing provocative comments about other idols' appearances, has sparked controversy in the industry.

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