Radio Host Kim Shin-young Criticized for 'Disrespecting PLAVE'—Will She Step Down?

Broadcaster Kim Shin-young has publicly apologized for her controversial remarks about virtual idol group PLAVE.

During the February 17 broadcast of MBC FM4U’s Noon’s Song of Hope with Kim Shin-young, she addressed the issue, stating, "On the February 16 episode, I made comments about the virtual group PLAVE that many felt were unfair and biased. I sincerely accept all opinions and would like to offer my deepest apologies to the artists and fans who were hurt by my words."

She continued, "Through this incident, I’ve once again realized the weight of words and the responsibility I hold as a DJ. I will be more careful moving forward, and I want to support and learn from PLAVE, who have worked incredibly hard on their own path."

Kim also admitted, "I failed to recognize the cultural shift. PLAVE has been working diligently, and I was incredibly disrespectful. I will make sure to educate myself and grow to prevent this from happening again."

What Led to the Controversy?

The controversy began on the February 16 broadcast of Noon’s Hope Song, when Kim Shin-young made dismissive remarks after listening to PLAVE’s latest track, Dash. She stated, "I still can’t get used to it," adding, "To be honest, they can’t appear on our show. It would hit me too hard," and "Where am I even supposed to look when they’re not physically there?"

Her comments were criticized as disrespectful and dismissive, sparking backlash from both PLAVE’s fans and general listeners.

PLAVE: A Virtual Idol Success Story

Debuting in March 2023, PLAVE consists of five members—Yejun, Noah, Bambi, Eunho, and Hamin. Despite being a virtual idol group, they achieved remarkable success, selling out their concert at Jamsil Indoor Stadium last year.

Their latest release, the third mini-album Caligo Part.1, dropped on February 3, and made history as the first virtual idol group to surpass 1,038,308 copies in first-week album sales. Additionally, all the tracks, including the title song Dash, dominated Melon’s Top 100 chart, ranking from No.1 to No.5.

While Kim Shin-young has apologized, the controversy has reignited discussions about the evolving landscape of virtual idols in the K-pop industry.