“Street Man Fighter” dancer Young-J is facing growing backlash after confirming he will marry his much younger girlfriend, a former crew member of his Just Jerk dance team, later this month in Seoul.
South Korean media reports that Young-J, born Seong Young-jae, planned the wedding for February 22 at a private venue in the capital, sharing tasteful pre-wedding and wedding-style photos that quickly spread across social media and online communities.
His bride-to-be, born in 2005, is reportedly 13 years younger than the 33-year-old dancer, a fact that has reignited an intense debate about their relationship and the power imbalance between a leader and a younger member of the team, according to Koreaboo.
The couple is said to have first met through Just Jerk, where Young-J served as a leader and mentor while his future wife was active as a dancer on the team and academy.
Over time, their professional relationship reportedly turned romantic, although the exact timing has been the focus of public attention since allegations that he was dating a minor member of the team first surfaced in 2024.
Online posts at the time said the relationship began while the woman was still in high school and included claims that she had suffered an abortion, sparking accusations of “grooming” and abuse of authority.
Young-J has strongly denied having sexual relations with her before she became an adult, saying that while they are indeed a couple, they only started dating after she reached the legal age, allkpop reported.
In multiple statements, including a detailed social media post and interviews, he said he asked her parents’ permission before they started dating because of the large age difference and his leadership role.
He also apologized to fans for causing “confusion” and “concern” about his personal life, acknowledging that his “short thoughts and judgments” as a leader had created a major controversy.
Despite his apology, news of the February wedding and the publication of romantic photos deepened the divide between supporters and critics.
Some fans say the relationship is a private matter now that both parties are adults, while many others in online forums and K-pop communities say the past allegations and mentor-student context make the marriage troubling.
As the wedding date approaches, Young-J has not released a new formal statement, but public scrutiny over the couple and their affair continues to intensify, as per News18.
