FTISLAND's Lee Hong Ki again defends Choi MIN HWAN over sex trafficking allegations, sparking controversy

‘FTISLAND’ Lee Hong Ki has made controversial statements defending Choi Min Hwan, who suspended his activities due to sex trafficking allegations.

Recently, Yulhee (ex-LABOUM) exposed her ex-husband Choi Min Hwan's sex trafficking allegations. In response, his company FNC Entertainment announced that Choi Min Hwan would suspend his media activities. Choi Min Hwan was appearing with his three children in KBS2 ‘Star Dad Struggle! Superman is Back' side also decided to drop him and the controversy grew louder.

Choi Min Hwan also announced that he would not participate in the group's scheduled schedule: on the 26th, he ‘half participated’ backstage at ‘FTISLAND's’ Taiwan concert, and on the 2nd November, he was scheduled to replace Choi Min-hwan at the ‘Grand Mint Festival 2024’ performance. Session performers will take part and only Lee Hong Ki and Lee Jae Jin will be on stage.

There has been interest in whether Choi Min Hwan, who is thus surrounded by allegations of sex trafficking, will suspend all activities and leave ‘FTISLAND’ or not.

However, member Lee Hong Ki said on the 25th "It's the privacy of the two of us and this has happened. We have to admit what we did wrong and bow down and apologise. Still, we all shouldn't believe everything too easily," he left a meaningful statement, seemingly defending Choi Min Hwan. Later, Lee Hong Ki reportedly left a comment in the middle of his Taiwan concert that he would wait until he got the results.

In response, on the 26th, a fan wrote to Weverse, "I don't know why I have to wait when (Choi Min Hwan) has already started an internal investigation on sex trafficking charges. I just want you to know that no one is going to support the future of a person who frequently dropped by an entertainment centre."

Lee Hong Ki, however, replied, "What if I'm not a sex trafficker? Can you take responsibility for what you just said?" He defended Choi Min Hwan secondarily by writing, "What if you're not in sex trafficking and you're not a sex trafficker? He was upset that fans pointed this out instead of expressing disappointment, even though the word ‘young lady’ appeared in a conversation that Choi Min Hwan had with an entertainment facility official, and he even asked her to get a motel room.

With Lee Hong Ki facing headwinds for defending Choi Min Hwan in this way, there is interest in whether Choi Min Hwan will stay in ‘FTISLAND’ and why Lee Hong Ki has to defend him with a confident tone.