Taemin, a member of SHINee, has issued a formal apology following backlash over his remarks about a recent earthquake in Japan.
On July 5 (KST), after performing at Show! Music Core in Japan at Belluna Dome, Taemin hosted a livestream with fellow member Minho. During the broadcast, he commented, “There was a prediction about the earthquake, right? But everything is still safe, so you really don’t need to worry.”
Minho replied, “Who was worried?”, to which Taemin answered, “Me. I was worried the stage might shake while I was singing. I’m very intuitive. I imagined everything shaking like in 3D during the climax of ‘Idea’, with fireworks and flames going off.” He then laughed, which many found inappropriate.
The remarks quickly drew criticism for making light of a natural disaster, especially considering the very real concerns of people in Japan.
In response, on July 6 (KST), Taemin posted an official apology on his social media, admitting his words were careless and expressing remorse for not considering the seriousness of the situation.
Taemin's full statement (English translation):
Hello, this is Taemin.
I sincerely apologize for the careless comment I made about the earthquake, which came from a desire to reassure fans who were worried. I now realize that I failed to consider the circumstances of those affected and the dangers of natural disasters, and I deeply regret speaking so lightly.
I was also very concerned myself and feel relieved that no serious damage occurred. From now on, I will be more thoughtful and careful in what I say.
Thank you.
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