The proximity between Dayoung, a member of WJSN, and MONSTA X members is currently sparking reactions from some fans. Following criticisms related to her recent interactions with the group, the idol spoke up to offer her apologies.
The controversy escalated after the dissemination of a message posted by Dayoung on Bubble, which was then shared on Korean online communities. In this message, the singer explained that she did not intend to hurt anyone and would be more careful with her words in the future.
« I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable. But I think some people were hurt because of me. Thank you for pointing that out to me. Even if it wasn’t my intention, if someone took it the wrong way, then I think I need to change. I will be more careful in the future. Can you tell them that I am sorry? And thank you for bringing it to my attention. »
This response comes as fans heavily discuss the very close relationship she has with the MONSTA X members, who are her seniors at Starship Entertainment.
Dayoung had previously explained that she knew the group members since her trainee days. She even shared that they took care of her when she was younger, developing a sort of “family game” among them. The idol would call some members “dad,” while they nicknamed her their “daughter.”
For a long time, this dynamic was seen as a playful joke between artists from the same agency. However, recently, several contents have brought this relationship back into the spotlight.
In a recent YouTube challenge video by Joohoney, Dayoung again referred to Kihyun as “dad,” which sparked numerous criticisms on social media. Some fans feel that this joke is now inappropriate or excessive, especially after past rumors of a relationship between Kihyun and Bona, another WJSN member.
Other sequences have also fueled discussions. In a recent YouTube video by Joohoney, Dayoung joked about the rapper having a lot of money. When he mentioned his channel’s income and sponsors, she humorously replied that fans should watch more of his videos to prevent “oppa from going broke.”
These remarks have divided netizens. Some found her comments amusing and natural among close friends, while others felt she crossed certain lines regarding the MONSTA X fandom.
The controversy further intensified after Dayoung’s apologies. Some fans believe she should now avoid such nicknames or public jokes with the group members. Others, however, think the reactions are disproportionate, given their long-standing friendship.
- « I understand they are close and she’s like a little sister they dote on. But now that they are all adults, couldn’t they stop with these nicknames? Fans probably prefer that. They don’t even have a 10-year age gap, it’s not like they need to call her “daughter.” Might as well stick with “brothers and sisters.” »
- « Frankly, the age difference isn’t that big. But since MONSTA X has taken care of her since her trainee days, calling them “dad” and “our daughter” can be misinterpreted by those who don’t know the history. And now Dayoung is in her late twenties and they are in their thirties, so even with the context, this father-daughter dynamic can make people uncomfortable. Since she apologized, I hope they can move on calmly. »
- « It was understandable that some people wouldn’t like that. I preferred not to say anything to avoid coming off as jealous, but since it escalated, now that she has understood and said she would stop, she really should. »
- « They are attacking her just because they don’t like her. »
- « Fans let it slide for a while. But now, it’s hurting her image because in the end, only Dayoung offered apologies. »
- « I only understand because they are not my biases. If they were my idols, I wouldn’t like it either. »
- « Ah, I understand better now. So they’re saying that the “family game” they played when they were young continues to this day… But originally, it was just a game among them when they were young, not a real special relationship. And now it’s becoming a problem. »
- « I’m not a fan of either group, but regardless of being from the same agency or not… even among friends, I don’t think it’s good to show too much closeness. You never know how relationships evolve. Even close friends can have disagreements, drift apart, and later it can become awkward with a partner. And it ends up wearing everyone out. »
- « But why call someone “dad” when they are both adults? »
- « It’s weird to see people old enough to be parents playing father and daughter. It’s strange from both sides. They are idols, why display this kind of thing? She could have just said “thank you for helping me” or something like that. »
- « Um… why is she calling another male idol “dad”? I understand why some fans are angry. »« They are mostly targeting Dayoung. »
- « It’s not just because of the YouTube video. People were already criticizing her for other interactions on Instagram with Kihyun. Now, they are just using this story as an excuse to continue criticizing her. »
- « They are making a big deal out of nothing once again… she apologized, so they should move on. »
- « I can understand why some fans don’t like it. »
- « She said she would be more careful in the future, so now she just has to be cautious. »
Dayoung has assured that she will be more careful in the future to avoid further misunderstandings between the fandoms.
Do you think the controversy surrounding Dayoung and MONSTA X is exaggerated?
