Recently, Shine Toemin from Shinee publicly apologized after dealing with the criticisms for the comments it made about a provision of the Japan earthquake during a recent live broadcast. In particular, on July 6, Taemin published a declaration on its history on social media which turns to the repercussions, “I wanted to reassure my worried fans, but now I realize that my observations on the earthquake were negligent. I apologize for not having fully considered the situation of those in Japan and the severity of natural catastrophes. I am reflecting on my actions.”
The male idol added, “I was also very worried and I felt raised by the fact that serious damage have not occurred. Going forward, I will think and talk more cautiously. Thanks.”
The controversy began during a live streaming in which Taemin mentioned a prophecy of the day of the viral judgment from the manga “The future I saw” From the Japanese artist Tatsuki Ryo, who provided that a catastrophic disaster will take place in Japan on July 5, 2025. The manga attracted attention for presumably prefigured past events such as the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and the Covid-19 pandemic.
While trying to comfort the fans, Taemin commented, “That prophecy … we are still safe, so you don’t have to worry too much”, Before adding humorously, “I was singing and I wondered what I would have done if things started to tremble. It seemed nice if the stage grit while I was dancing?
His observations, which seemed to shed light on a potential disaster, aroused online criticism to be insensitive to the fears and experiences of people affected by natural disasters. Many Netizen have expressed disappointment, stating that even as a joke, these comments trivialize the real trauma and the current concerns.
