In a shocking update, indie band Jannabi has, for the first time, revealed what has happened over the seven years following the 2019 controversy involving former member Yoo Young-hyun.
Through their official fan cafe on the 14th, Jannabi stated, "We promised to be honest with everyone," adding, "We have wrestled with this and worked hard. It now feels like the right time to speak."
Back in 2019, Yoo Young-hyun left the team amid a school bullying controversy. Regarding the situation then, Jannabi explained, "At the time, Yoo Young-hyun claimed he did not commit the listed actions. However, it was true that there was classwide harassment, and Yoo felt responsible and chose to leave the team." Since then, Jannabi said they have spent years pursuing sincere communication with the person affected, approaching carefully through a mediator and prioritizing the victim's healing process above all else.
Jannabi continued, "We hope this message can bring at least a little comfort to our fans, who stood by us and had to endure so much along the way. We sincerely wish that the person involved, Young-hyun, and Jannabi can each start a new chapter in our own places." Their label, Peponi Music, explained that they shared this journey of forgiveness with the consent of the person affected and posted the statement in the hope that everyone involved can heal and move forward.
Meanwhile, a letter released by the person affected shared that Yoo Young-hyun had spent years trying to convey his sincerity, even seeking out the actual perpetrators to obtain written apologies. The individual said Yoo deeply accepted his mistakes and responsibility as a bystander at the time and spent a long period in self-reflection, adding that his apology felt like more than just an apology — it felt like courage and accountability. They continued, "I'm grateful to the Jannabi members who shouldered responsibility alongside him, and I can now turn the page to the next chapter of my life. I'm really okay now. I'm leaving these words because I finally feel I can say them sincerely."