NCT Members Apologize For 'Insensitive' Actions Amid Earthquake Alert

21 out of the 23 members of NCT have made their official comeback on Tuesday.

The all-male K-pop group dropped Universe on the said day, marking their third studio album release.

Official track videos for three titles emerged days prior. These are Dreaming, Miracle, and Earthquake, which subunits Dream, WayV, and 127 performed, respectively.

To celebrate the group’s full return, they held a live broadcast titled, NCT Universe Countdown Live. Following the engagement, though, some of the members received criticisms for reportedly acting inappropriate and “insensitive.”

Some NCT Members Posted Apology Letters On Social Media

AllKpop said that the NCT members involved in the controversy quickly took their apologies to social media. They wrote apology letters and posted them on Instagram.

Doyoung seemingly takes the blame as he stated that it is his “complete mistake and there is no excuse for it.” He apologized to those who may have felt uncomfortable and hurt, and assured them he will prevent doing the same mistake.

Mark shared a similar letter saying, he is sorry for how he acted during the live engagement. He noted that he did not understand the situation, causing him to show “careless and insensitive behavior.”

The K-pop idol emphasized, however, that he will “self-reflect deeply.”

As for Johnny, he said that he is sorry for “backing rashly” during the comeback live. He told his followers that he will “think and act more carefully in the future.”

What Happened During The Live Broadcast

NME recalled what went down during the live broadcast on December 14. It reported that during the engagement, a 4.9 magnitude earthquake hit Jeju Island.

Following the phenomenon, an emergency earthquake alert rang on the staff members’ smartphones, informing the public about the event. Amid the sounding alarm, three NCT members linked the actual earthquake to their newly released track, Earthquake.

Doyoung reportedly began as he first mentioned their song from the Universe album. Mark followed and sang a verse from the Earthquake track, while Johnny stood up and danced.

Reports said that the other NCT members immediately stopped the involved idols. However, netizens already saw what happened, considering that they were broadcasting the engagement live.