The controversy surrounding NCT WISH member Ryo's comment about the 'Sea of Japan' is heating up.
During the Japanese radio program 'Chat with WISH' on September 4, Ryo mentioned while talking about Fukui Prefecture with fellow members Riku and Jaehwi, "The crabs from the Sea of Japan would be delicious."
Given Korea's sensitivity toward the naming of the East Sea, this comment quickly spread across social media and various communities, stirring controversy. Days have passed since then, but it seems the debate isn't dying down easily, possibly due to the lack of an apology or response from the agency.
Netizens reacted to Ryo's comment with remarks like, "If you’re going to be active in Korea, at least study some history," "He still hasn’t apologized," and "If that’s the case, he should just be a Japanese idol."
However, some argue, "As a Japanese person, it's natural for him to say 'Sea of Japan'" and "I don’t think there was any bad intention; the backlash seems excessive."
Meanwhile, NCT WISH debuted in February last year as a six-member localized group under SM Entertainment, with Sion and Jaehwi being the only Koreans among all Japanese members.