Fake Ages, Dating, And More — Every Scandal Fantasy Boys Have Been Involved In Over The Last 10 Months

In June 2023, MBC’s Fantasy Boys aired, the sequel to My Teenage Girl, the survival show that formed CLASS:y. The group, also called Fantasy Boys, would go on to debut in September but was overshadowed by a scandal involving the group’s leader.

Unfortunately, this is not the only incident the group’s members have been involved in, beginning with their appearances on the show.

1. K-Soul’s Age

Member K-Soul is Chinese and previously appeared on the survival shows Super Idol and We Are Young before Fantasy Boys. Netizens who recalled this expressed confusion over his Fantasy Boys profile listing 2000 as his birth year when previous profiles from the other programs reportedly listed different years.

[정보/소식] 소년판타지 출연중인 소울 2차 나이 속임 의심 https://t.co/2k1bgzo2JT pic.twitter.com/ttycUWELqr

— 인스티즈(instiz) (@instiz) April 10, 2023

While the “truth” behind his age has not been discovered, netizens concluded that the idol’s birth year could be as early as 1996, based on his admission date to university.

2. Fat Shaming

In a behind-the-scenes clip, another trainee, Kim Wooseok, commented that K-Soul had called a photocard of Fantasy Boys’ Hikari ugly and said he had a “fat chin.” The idol then reached over to Kim Wooseok, touching his chin while saying, “You’re already handsome, but to look more handsome, you should lose some chin fat.”

K-Soul also referred to Hikari as a “pig baby” after the other trainee asked that he not comment on his appearance.

3. Queer Baiting

MBC came under fire for using 14-year-old Hyeontae in the thumbnail of a video featuring the trainees playing games that simulated kissing like the “pepero game” and the “paper kissing game.”

this is really strange when u have 13/14 year olds on the show https://t.co/aTInbrmPvA

— (@junwoner) May 23, 2023

Netizens were uncomfortable with the situation due to the number of minors on the show.

5. Cancelled Debut

First-place-ranked trainee Yu Junwon was excluded from the lineup based on claims that his parents found the contract he signed unfair.

The court denied the idol’s application for a suspension of his exclusive contract, and the company offered Junwon a second chance, which was not taken. The lawsuit claiming ₩3.00 billion KRW (about $2.29 million USD) in damages was filed last year and is expected to go to trial soon.

6. Underage Member “Dating”

In December 2023, an anonymous netizens accused a stylist of being in an inappropriate romantic and illegal relationship with 14-year-old member Kim Gyurae. “Evidence” from a hacker included alleged conversations between the idol and the stylist during the group’s promotions.

Pocketdol released a statement stating that the images were maliciously edited and false, vowing legal action against the person who spread the “evidence.

7. Exposing Another Idol

During a live stream, K-Soul exposed another idol for having been out at a club with a girlfriend, even “groping her butt” there. He also criticized the idol for dating while others work hard to be noticed.

I searched their hashtag and saw a comment that said, ‘He has a girlfriend, but I still really like him, what should I do?’ I was like, Hmm…fine. This is very unfair to the guys who work hard in the practice room just for that one chance to get noticed by everyone.

— K-Soul

While dating is still met with controversy, many found K-Soul’s comments distasteful and claimed he was only helping the subject remain taboo.

8. K-Pop Fans Being Future Abuse Victims

During the same live stream where he exposed another idol, K-Soul also likened fans accepting their idols dating to domestic abuse victims.

I don’t understand it. Get ready to get cheated on while you’re in a relationship and get abused while you’re in a marriage, then. I really don’t understand it.

— K-Soul

Many found this wildly inappropriate and damaging to those who have lived through abusive relationships.