The rookie K-pop group ALPHA DRIVE ONE is facing its first significant challenge as member Geonwoo has officially entered a period of temporary hiatus.
On April 8, the group’s agency, WAKEONE, released a comprehensive statement addressing recent allegations concerning Geonwoo’s conduct and announcing his decision to withdraw from upcoming promotional activities.
This move follows a wave of online discourse regarding “improper remarks” and “poor attitude” allegedly displayed by the artist behind-the-scenes during content filming.
Clarifying the Incident and Taking Accountability
In their official communication, WAKEONE provided a detailed explanation of the incident that triggered the controversy.
The agency clarified that the core of the issue occurred on a filming set prior to the group’s debut.
During this time, Geonwoo reportedly used “inappropriate language” to express dissatisfaction, unaware that his microphone was active.
The agency was careful to specify that his remarks were not a personal attack or directed at any specific individual, but rather a “muttered remark to himself.”
Despite this distinction, both the agency and Geonwoo acknowledged that such behavior was unprofessional and inappropriate regardless of the context.
WAKEONE expressed a “heavy sense of responsibility” for the incident, admitting to a lapse in their oversight and artist management.
They explained that while Geonwoo had apologized to the production team immediately following the event, the agency initially chose not to release a statement to avoid placing further burden on the staff involved.
However, as unverified rumors began to circulate online, the process of fact-checking led to a delay in their public response.
The agency has firmly stated that “various other suspicions” being raised online are untrue and has urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information.
A Period of Deep Reflection
Accompanying the agency’s statement was a heartfelt, handwritten letter from Geonwoo, posted on the group’s Mnet Plus page.
In his message, the artist expressed deep regret for his “immature words and actions” and offered a sincere apology to the fans, his fellow group members, and the production staff who were affected. He wrote,
“Through this incident, I have acutely felt how foolish my actions were and how lacking I am as a person.”
Geonwoo emphasized that he does not take the love from his fans for granted and promised to use this time to become a more mature individual.
As a result of this decision for self-reflection, Geonwoo will not be participating in the activities currently being prepared, nor will he appear in the group’s upcoming fan-con.
For the foreseeable future, ALPHA DRIVE ONE will promote as a seven-member unit. However, fans should be aware that some content- including broadcasts and pre-filmed material produced before the suspension- may still be released according to the original schedule.
WAKEONE has also pledged to use this incident as a catalyst for internal reform. They are currently reviewing their artist management systems and communication methods to ensure that such occurrences are prevented in the future.
The agency’s commitment is clear:
“Our agency is reviewing our overall internal and external communication methods and is also taking a close look at our artist management system.”
This proactive approach aims to stabilize the environment for all members of ALPHA DRIVE ONE as they continue to pursue their shared dreams.
As the group moves forward, the agency has asked for the “warm support and continued interest” of their global fanbase during this transitional period.
