Chan-yong (찬용), a member of the new K-pop boy group GENUS, has ignited controversy over a recent TikTok dance challenge video. The video featured him dancing to an audio clip from the American animated series South Park, which contained racially offensive language targeting Black people. The clip's release immediately drew strong criticism from netizens, with some exclaiming, “He just ruined the entire group’s career!” As the backlash intensified, the group’s agency released an apology statement on October 8.
Chan-yong reportedly shared a dance challenge video online using an audio clip labeled “Neck Hurts.” However, the audio was actually taken from an episode of South Park and included a severe racial slur against Black individuals. Given the highly offensive nature of such language, even as part of a dance challenge, the choice of audio has raised significant questions and criticism.
Following the video’s release, many netizens commented critically. One user directly stated, “He just directly ruined the entire group’s career.” Others refuted attempts to defend him, arguing, “Those who say the audio means ‘neck hurts,’ under what circumstances would someone suddenly say something like that?” implying that the actual context of the audio was not difficult to understand.
Furthermore, some netizens expressed disappointment, believing that certain groups resort to content involving racial discrimination or cultural appropriation to gain attention. One user questioned, “There are so many other audio clips to choose from, why use this one?” Others pointed out that the audio clip wasn't even a trending sound at the time, making its selection even more perplexing.
In response to the overwhelming criticism, GENUS’s agency, JUST FOCUS ENTERTAINMENT, issued a statement on the group’s official TikTok account on October 8. The agency acknowledged that the previously uploaded video used audio that could be interpreted as racially offensive and apologized for releasing the content without fully verifying the meaning and background of the audio.
The company stated in its apology: “We have confirmed that a video posted on GENUS’s official social media platform used audio containing content that could be interpreted as racially offensive. We deeply apologize for releasing the content without fully verifying the meaning and background of the audio beforehand.”
The statement also noted that the problematic video has been taken down and that the agency will strengthen its audio selection and content review processes in the future to prevent similar incidents. It reiterated apologies to all who were hurt or felt uncomfortable due to the incident.
However, some netizens remain unconvinced by the agency’s apology, believing that the wording of the statement did not adequately address the controversy or alleviate public concerns. The extent to which this incident will impact GENUS’s image and future activities remains a point of interest.
GENUS is a five-member boy group under South Korean agency JUST FOCUS ENTERTAINMENT. The group officially began promotional activities in Japan on January 10, 2026, which are ongoing. They officially debuted on April 27, 2026, with their first digital single, “SUGAR RUSH.” Member Chan-yong previously participated in the audition programs PROJECT 7 and Wild Idol, being eliminated in the eighth round of both.
