Fans Prepare Trucks To Call For ZEROBASEONE Kim Jiwoong’s Withdrawal From The Group

ZEROBASEONE‘s Kim Jiwoong was recently caught up in a controversy when he was accused of cursing after a video call fan sign with a fan. According to allegations, he was heard saying “fu*k” in Korean when he thought the call had ended. Due to the lag between the video and audio being cut off, it ended up being recorded.

평소에도 빠순이와의 영통이 끝나시면 인사를 씨~발이라고하시는 편인가요? 제가 잘 모르겠어서 제로즈님들의 의견이 궁금합니다 #김지웅 #제로즈_트친소 pic.twitter.com/128TqzuRfU

— .. (@81930287a) February 2, 2024

The company later claimed they would find out the truth with the help of forensics. Their statement was criticized, as it addressed more than one issue simultaneously and did not specifically deny Kim’s incident.

Fans Question The “Suspicious Timing” Of WAKEONE’s Sudden Statement Following Kim Jiwoong’s Attitude Controversy

Later, the fan clarified the situation and reinforced their stance.

Fan Exposing ZEROBASEONE Kim Jiwoong’s Controversial Videocall Re-Emerges Following WAKEONE’s Response

Following the matter, a union has surfaced to organize protest trucks calling for this withdrawal. The union previewed the visuals for the trucks on February 5, 2024.

They accompanied the post with the hashtags, “Kimjiwoong_leave_ifyouhaveaconscience,” and “pleaseleavethegroupkimjiwoong.” The various wordings planned for the truck include the following:

• Mr. Kim Jiwoong, hurry and leave. (Word play on the Korean words for “Mr.” and “hurry” to form the word for f*ck in Korean, “Sshibal.”)
• We voted so you could debut, but what we get in return are curses. Kim Jiwoong, leave the group.
• If you forcibly continue this way, all ZEROSES will leave. The oldest hyung who is being a nuisance to his 8 dongsaengs.
• Kim Jiwoong, the sole nuisance member, who turned his group into one that hates fans, should leave.

Netizens remain on the side of the fans opposing him.

• The idols who debut through survival shows normally have experienced what it is like to feel desperate, so they know how precious fans are, and treat them well. Why did he do that? I’m not saying that other idols aren’t desperate btw, and other idols are good to fans too. The company made the matter worse. They could’ve just said something like, “he didn’t say it like that, sorry for the misunderstanding.”
• It would’ve been fine if he just apologized from the get-go, or solved the misunderstanding by talking with that fan.
• The first one is pretty strong LOL.
• The matter blew up because he didn’t apologize.
• Wow, this is going too far.
• Wow, they’re coming on strong LOL.
• Is it the company’s first time at raising idols? Although I know that ZEROBASEONE’s temporarily assigned to them.
• I gasped as soon as I saw the pictures, because the “sshibal” was too intense, but thinking about it, he said that while a fan was listening… OMG.

The company has neither apologized for the matter, nor have they confirmed or denied it. Rather, their roundabout statement that did not directly address Kim Jiwoong’s controversy made things worse from the fans’ point of view.