MADEIN criticized after excluding Yeseo and recycling old blog post

MADEIN is facing severe backlash just one year after their debut, as a series of controversies—including the quiet exclusion of Yeseo and a faked fan update—has shattered fan trust and sparked outrage online.

On July 30, Korean media reported that a sub-unit of MADEIN, named MADEIN s, would be making a comeback with only four Japanese members. The announcement came without any prior notice about Yeseo, who had been considered the group’s main vocalist and one of the central figures alongside fellow Kep1er alum Sakamoto Mashiro. Her sudden absence from the lineup raised questions and alarm among fans.

To add fuel to the fire, a blog post under Yeseo’s name was later uploaded to the group’s official fan club platform. However, fans quickly identified the photos used as recycled images from a post she had made on Instagram over a year ago. The update, intended to reassure fans, was widely condemned as deceptive and disingenuous.

These developments are only the latest in a long list of troubling events involving the group and its management. Shortly after their debut in September 2023, former member Gaeun, a minor at the time, accused the agency's CEO of sexual misconduct. Instead of protecting the victim, the company sided with the accused and removed Gaeun from the group. Promotions and commercial deals were immediately halted, and fan backlash was swift.

In April 2024, Gaeun filed a lawsuit for contract termination with the help of the Hanbit Media Labor Rights Center and went public with her story. Although the agency announced the CEO’s resignation, fans discovered his name still listed in production credits for another artist under the same company—raising doubts about whether he had truly stepped down.

Another member, Suhye, also quietly left the group around the same time without any formal explanation. Since then, MADEIN has continued as a five-member group—until the latest development left only the four Japanese members active.

Despite multiple scandals and unresolved issues, the agency has continued to release merchandise and move forward with group activities without offering proper clarification or accountability. Fans, both Korean and Japanese, are now calling for boycotts due to the company’s silence and opaque handling of the group.

The CEO is also reportedly facing other serious allegations, including unpaid wages, embezzlement, threats, and coercion related to music video production.

With each new misstep, fans grow more frustrated and disillusioned. While supporters continue to demand justice and protection for the victims, the fate of MADEIN remains uncertain. As the group reaches its one-year anniversary, public pressure is mounting for the agency to finally take responsibility and rebuild the trust it has lost.

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