Gunil’s Sudden Departure Rocks Xdinary Heroes
Gunil, former member of Xdinary Heroes / Courtesy of JYP Entertainment
Gunil left Xdinary Heroes just one day after a controversy erupted over remarks he allegedly made about fans. As the abrupt termination forced the cancellation of major upcoming events, the standard of personal conduct and professionalism that JYP Entertainment founder Park Jin-young has emphasized for years is drawing renewed attention.
On Aug. 13, JYP Entertainment announced Gunil could no longer continue group activities and that his exclusive management contract had been terminated.
While the agency did not disclose specific details, it previously released a statement saying it “deeply recognizes the gravity of the situation regarding the recent issue involving Gunil.” On Aug. 12, allegations by a user claiming to be Gunil’s ex-girlfriend circulated on online forums. Because the accompanying voice recording contained profanity, Gunil became embroiled in a controversy over comments allegedly insulting fans.
Compounding private life issues with a controversy stemming from profanity and allegations of demeaning the group’s core fan base, the situation reached a breaking point. Gunil ultimately left the band just one day after the controversy surfaced, and his contract with the agency came to an end.
Gunil is a Berklee College of Music graduate with high-level drumming skills who served as the band’s leader. Nevertheless, JYP chose contract termination over retaining him. Xdinary Heroes, continuing as a five-member group, was forced to adjust its schedule following his departure.
Indeed, major scheduled events were canceled, including the band’s appearance at Japan’s major music festival Summer Sonic 2026. Because Gunil’s vacancy was difficult to fill on short notice, JYP’s decision to act swiftly despite having to cancel a major schedule drew widespread attention.
JYP Entertainment’s Strict Standards Back in Focus
Park Jin-young, head producer of JYP Entertainment and co-chair of the Popular Culture Exchange Committee, speaks during a press conference to announce the 2027 Fanomenon initiative at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea in Seoul, July 27. Yonhap
In light of the agency’s response, the standard of personal conduct emphasized by the JYP founder has resurfaced. Park has underscored his standard of character over skill across multiple survival programs. In Mnet’s 2015 survival program “Sixteen,” which selected the members of TWICE, Park made his standard explicit, saying, “I hope you will be a good person before becoming a good singer.”
At the time, Park said, “Sincerity, humility and honesty are the three qualities that matter,” revealing that he had not used profanity since 2010. Urging them to live transparently, he emphasized maintaining genuine gratitude toward staff members. He added, “You can succeed without being humble. But crises come in life, and when they do, you need help from the people around you.”
At the 2019 press conference for Mnet’s “Super Intern,” Park reiterated that personal conduct comes first. “Even if someone is not exceptionally talented or skilled, I prefer a person who is considerate of others, works well with a team and delivers results,” he said, adding that this applies equally whether one is an artist, actor or employee.
Given Park’s past remarks, the decision to terminate Gunil’s contract aligns with JYP’s long-standing character-based standards. In the K-pop industry, where relationships with fans are paramount, private life, conduct and attitude toward fans directly shape a group’s image. By moving immediately to terminate the contract and cancel major schedules, JYP appears to have prioritized the severity of the controversy over talent or promotional plans.
Gunil Denies Key Allegations, Challenges Termination
Gunil, former member of Xdinary Heroes / Courtesy of JYP Entertainment
Meanwhile, Gunil recently reversed his stance, asserting that recent allegations claiming he insulted members and fans are completely baseless, according to his representative.
In a post on a fan communication platform on Aug. 13, Gunil said, “I truly wanted to remain with Xdinary Heroes until the end and keep the six-member group together. But as you know, I reluctantly decided to accept the company’s decision. It still does not feel real.”
But on Thursday, attorney Sung Jae-hwan of Joowon Law Firm, representing Gunil, issued an official statement, saying “Gunil deeply apologizes to Xdinary Heroes fans and members for causing them concern over this matter.”
While acknowledging Gunil’s use of inappropriate language in a private conversation was “a serious lapse that cannot be justified under any circumstances,” the attorney said a further review of records showed allegations that Gunil repeatedly used profanity or criticized fans are untrue.
The attorney also emphasized that allegations claiming the artist insulted fellow members or cheated on his partner are false.
Regarding the contract termination with JYP Entertainment, the representative said he was open to further discussions.
“Gunil did not voluntarily leave the group and did not consent to the termination of his exclusive management contract.” the lawyer said. “Given the circumstances and nature of the matter, it is also difficult to conclude that there were grounds to terminate the contract.”
Gunil added, however, that he does not wish to cause further distress to fans over the issue.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.
