Popular K-pop boy group ATEEZ recently made a comeback with their new song “BAD.” Beyond the track itself, member Choi San (최산) sparked a social media craze with his signature “chest-shaking dance.” Related clips led to numerous netizens imitating the move, with many celebrities also joining the challenge. Even veteran Korean actor Ma Dong-seok (마동석) participated, filming his own version and calling himself “Ma San” on Instagram, further fueling the trend and boosting ATEEZ's domestic buzz in Korea.
However, as the group's popularity soared, member Kang Yeo-sang (강여상) revealed his true feelings during a livestream, admitting he hadn't distinctly felt this surge in popularity and that his daily life had seen little change. Fans were heartbroken by his candid remarks.
Yeo-sang serves as a sub-vocalist, sub-rapper, and visual for ATEEZ. During a recent livestream, when asked, “Have you felt your popularity growing lately?” he paused before confessing, “Hmm… I'm not really sure. In some ways, I feel like the popularity hasn't truly affected me yet.”
Yeo-sang further explained that even with ATEEZ's recent rise in popularity, his daily routine remained largely unchanged. He continues to follow his schedule, interact with familiar fans during livestreams, and then return home. He also mentioned that even his parents hoped this boost in group popularity would bring him more opportunities for individual development.
These remarks quickly sparked heated discussion among fans. Many expressed sympathy, suggesting that Yeo-sang's inability to “feel the popularity” might be due to relatively limited individual exposure and activity opportunities. They pointed fingers at KQ Entertainment, the group's agency, believing the company hasn't arranged enough solo activities for him or adequately planned his personal image and career.
One fan commented that it's rare for an idol to so directly express the sentiment of “the group's popularity is rising, but I haven't felt it myself.” They also noted that Yeo-sang seems to have had fewer opportunities in the past to build recognition through solo activities or represent ATEEZ at public events as an individual.
Other fans were equally disheartened, believing that while Yeo-sang could certainly be happy for the group and other members during this significant period of ATEEZ's growth, they wondered, “What about him?” With limited individual activities, it's indeed difficult to feel what changes the group's rising popularity has brought to him personally.
Furthermore, fans pointed out that from Yeo-sang's description, his life seems to be a cycle of “work, livestream with familiar fans, and go home.” They believe that if the company doesn't actively arrange individual or unit activities for him, he might indeed lack opportunities to build personal recognition.
Criticism from fans towards KQ Entertainment continues to escalate. Many feel that Yeo-sang has been with ATEEZ for years, growing with the group, and now that the group's popularity has broken through, he doesn't seem to be simultaneously gaining more individual development opportunities, which makes fans particularly sympathetic. However, whether the company is deliberately neglecting Yeo-sang's individual development remains a fan perspective, and a definitive conclusion cannot be drawn solely from the content of this livestream.
