Hi! This article was recently posted on Naver. Since we’ll all be looking for photos and videos of Seungkwan and Chan today/tomorrow, I wanted to translate the relevant part of Pledis’s statement just to be safe and avoid giving sasaengs any engagement through likes or Rts. Pledis stated: “Since the enlistment ceremony will be attended by many soldiers and their families, we kindly ask that you refrain from visiting the site on the day of their enlistment. Although both members will be unable to participate in SEVENTEEN’s activities once their military service begins, they will continue to meet CARATs through various contents prepared in advance. We would appreciate it if you could share your messages of support and encouragement for the members through Weverse. We ask for CARATs’ continued love and support so that the members can faithfully fulfill their military duties and return in even better health.” m.entertain.naver.com/home/a…

Why K-fans and Korean-speaking readers are furious about the new web novel <이상적 아이돌의 회귀비망록> (A Comprehensive Breakdown) There is an overwhelming amount of misinformation circulating regarding the backlash against author Cheongdo Peach’s (@.doraonda) new web novel on KakaoPage, <이상적 아이돌의 회귀비망록> (Memoir of an Ideal Idol’s Regression). Having read the chapters and monitored the discussions across Korean communities (theqoo, X), I want to write correct info for international fans. This is not a generic regression story; it is a blatant, disrespectful patchwork of real-life people, unique group dynamics, xenophobic tropes, and deeply painful real-life trauma used as cheap fiction fodder. Here is what is actually going on: 1. The Blatant Plagiarism of SEVENTEEN’s Identity & Internal Memes The fictional group in question is named "Eleven". The author did not just write a generic multi-member group; they lifted SEVENTEEN’s specific historical setup and fandom lore almost verbatim: * The Name Math: The group is explained through an exact mathematical formula—members + team/fandom = group name. When one member leaves, the text explicitly writes that it now means "10 members and 1 team". * Fandom-Specific Jokes Weaponized: The text pulls directly from SEVENTEEN’s well-known inside fandom jokes—specifically the dark humor meme Carats and members used to joke about when strangers asked why a 13-member team was called "17" (e.g., "Did a few members die?", "Did someone eat the rest?"). * Real Trainee Stories: Specific real-life pre-debut anecdotes, including trainees sneaking out to buy ice cream only to walk in a park because they had no money, were lifted directly into the text. * The Protagonist Archetype: The main character regresses with the goal of writing songs and acting as the group’s self-producing idol, echoing Woozi’s established identity in a multi-member lineup. 2. Reinforcing Harmful Xenophobic Stereotypes (The Chinese Member Trope) The way the fictional group’s downfall is written has caused immense anger. In Chapter 1, the author writes > "The first to leave was the Chinese member, A. It was during our first and only somewhat successful promotion. As if proving the negative prejudices against Chinese members, the moment A received an offer from a Chinese agency, they unilaterally nullified the contract and fled back to their home country." To use real-life multi-national group aesthetics while actively leaning into xenophobic stereotypes ("Chinese idols always breach contracts and run away") is disgusting on its own. SEVENTEEN's Chinese line has spent over a decade proving their loyalty, constantly promoting the team even during their individual schedules in China. Reducing multi-national group dynamics to this tired, hateful prejudice is inexcusable. 3. The Crossed Line: Exploiting Real-Life Tragedy as a "Plot Device" This is what pushed the controversy onto theqoo’s HOT board and elevated it beyond typical fandom friction. According to the official synopsis and Korean community breakdowns: * The fictional group falls from 11 members to 7 due to contract terminations, adultery scandals, severe crimes, and the death of the protagonist’s closest friend/member. * One year later, the deceased friend’s younger sister approaches the protagonist and offers a way to turn back time. * The protagonist regresses to his trainee days to save his team and keep his best friend alive. Anyone familiar with the industry understands immediately why this crossed an absolute moral boundary. Using a real, devastating tragedy involving a deceased idol, their grieving sibling, and their best friend as a literal regression mechanic and narrative trope for an entertainment novel is vile and callous. Korean readers also noted that the author previously used similar real-person references and modified nicknames in their past works. +