In what netizens are calling a “marketing humiliation,” a rookie K-Pop trainee who gained attention as the “grandson of Shinjeon Tteokbokki’s CEO” has now been revealed to be the CEO’s nephew, not his grandson.
On October 28, Modenberry Korea announced, “We are unveiling our trainee Ha Min-ki. He is scheduled to officially debut as a member of a new boy group in the second half of 2026.”
Born in 2007, Ha Min-ki previously trained at SM Entertainment and is gaining attention for his striking visuals and tall frame reportedly standing at 185cm. Already dubbed a “visual rookie,” he’s considered one of the most promising trainees in the next generation of idols.
The company added, “Ha Min-ki’s family is fully supportive of his entertainment career. We’re investing heavily in member training and content development ahead of the group’s 2026 launch.”
Ha Min-ki himself expressed his determination: “I’m still a trainee, but I want to become an artist who can sincerely connect with the public. I’m already looking forward to meeting my future fans.”
Soon after the announcement, users on Korean online communities began to question the family connection.
They pointed out a glaring inconsistency: Ha Sung-ho, the chairman of Shinjeon Tteokbokki, was born in 1977, making him 48 years old this year. That would mean a mere 30-year age gap between him and 18-year-old Ha Min-ki — an unusually small difference for a grandparent-grandchild relationship.
Amid growing skepticism, Shinjeon Tteokbokki released an official statement clarifying that the information was completely false.
“The person mentioned in recent articles is not the grandson of CEO Ha Sung-ho,” the company stated. “Such misinformation has the potential to harm both the company’s and individual’s reputation.”
The statement emphasized that the claim had been published without proper fact-checking.
Following Shinjeon’s response, Modernberry Korea admitted the mistake, calling it a “simple administrative error.”
“Due to a staff member’s input mistake, incorrect information was shared,” the agency said. “Ha Min-ki is the nephew of CEO Ha Sung-ho. We sincerely apologize for the confusion this caused.”
However, the apology quickly reignited backlash when the agency warned it would consider legal action against those spreading false rumors online.
This defensive tone only angered the public further.
“It’s absurd — they tried to promote him with ‘gold-spoon’ marketing, got caught, and now they’re threatening lawsuits,” one commenter wrote.
“They should be apologizing, not intimidating netizens,” another said.
This news follows Annie’s debut with idol group AllDay Project, where her elite chaebol lineage stirred headlines. Both idols not only share prestigious family backgrounds but also chose to pursue music careers on their own terms, earning public respect for their personal ambition.
An industry insider commented, “In the past, it was rare for chaebol family members to enter showbiz. But now, second and third-generation heirs are showing growing interest in the content industry, stepping onto the stage themselves. With Annie and now Ha Min-ki, we’re truly entering the era of third-generation chaebol idols.”
Sources: Daum
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