On February 17 KST, ‘Dispatch’ reported on the voice analysis conducted by the Korea Forensic Service regarding the alleged use of a curse word by ZEROBASEONE member Kim Ji Woong during a fan call.
The controversy arose when a fan accused Kim Ji Woong of swearing after their call ended, a claim vehemently denied by Wake One Entertainment, the label representing ZEROBASEONE.
In response to the accusations, Wake One Entertainment expressed its commitment to uncovering the truth through digital media forensic analysis. The Korea Forensic Service conducted a voice analysis by examining the pronunciation of words in two videos—the fan’s approximately 3-minute recording and CCTV footage from Wake One Entertainment’s building.
The analyst identified three phrases in sequential order: 1) “Thank you” 2) “Ssibal (f**k)” 3) “(either) Strange or suspicious.” The analysis found no abnormalities in sound frequency between the three phrases, indicating that they were recorded successively without manipulation.
However, the analyst observed a difference in wave patterns between phrase 1 and phrase 2, leading to two conclusions. Firstly, there was evidence of editing to enhance the pronunciation of phrases 2 and 3, making them clearer than phrase 1.
Secondly, based on the wave pattern disparity, it was determined that the speaker of phrase 2 was not the same as the speaker of phrase 1. While the speaker of phrase 3 matched that of phrase 1, it remained uncertain if the speakers of phrases 2 and 3 were identical.
A staff member identified as ‘D,’ present during the fan call and monitoring Kim Ji Woong’s conversations, asserted to ‘Dispatch’ that they did not recall the specifics of the fan call but were certain that Kim Ji Woong did not use any curse words.
Wake One Entertainment issued an official statement on February 17 KST following the’ Dispatch’ report. The label confirmed that they had requested the forensic analysis through their legal representative, Law Firm Sejong.
Wake One Entertainment reiterated the findings summarized by ‘Dispatch’ and affirmed their ongoing commitment to safeguarding their artists.
The article outlines the key points of the voice analysis report, presenting the analyst’s conclusions and including statements from a staff member and Wake One Entertainment.
