SHINee’s Taemin has had an extremely active 2026. In March, he released his first English single “Long Way Home,” which later entered the US Top 40 Radio Airplay chart. He also appeared on major US programs, including “The Kelly Clarkson Show” and “The Jennifer Hudson Show.”

In May, Taemin released the digital single “Permission” ahead of his landmark Coachella performance. He also joined SHINee’s 6th mini album “Atmos” and the concert series “2026 SHINee WORLD VIII: [THE INVERT].” However, despite this busy schedule, online discussion intensified after “Permission” showed weak performance on Melon Music.

On June 3, the song reportedly ranked in the 500s on the platform and had fewer than 2,000 likes. This led some netizens to call the comeback a “flop,” arguing that Taemin’s public popularity may be declining. A viral post on Pann with several harsh comments:

  • “Apparently, SHINee made a comeback too, lol. Not that anyone would know… but yeah, they didn’t even chart.”
  • “Isn’t that obvious? Taemin isn’t even an idol people feel threatened by, so nobody pays him any attention anyway.”
  • “It feels like Taemin’s fans’ mentality has gotten weird because his career flopped.”
  • “Huh? Is he still active?”

Not everyone agreed with the criticism. Many fans defended Taemin, pointing out that chart rankings do not fully define an artist’s success, especially for a senior idol with a long-established fanbase and international activities. Some argued that Taemin has already built a strong solo career and that his fans continue to support his releases, concerts, and performances.

  • “I watched his Coachella performance and loved it, so I wanted to give him a listen, but it’s not on YouTube Music? SHINee is actually making a comeback soon; given the situation with Key, I doubt they’ll be promoting in the usual way – they’ll probably just stick to doing concerts and the like. SHINee is still incredibly popular, after all. Taemin has also been consistently releasing solo material; the people who want to listen are listening. Does it really only count as “success” if the general public knows about it?”
  • “It’s absolutely hilarious that nobody even knows they made a comeback lol.”
  • “For someone like Taemin, he’s been insanely successful as a solo artist.”
  • “The smear campaign is pathetic. Cut it out. Just leave Taemin alone.”

While “Permission” may not be dominating Melon, Taemin’s 2026 schedule proves he is far from inactive. With Coachella, US promotions, solo releases, SHINee activities, and concerts, Taemin remains one of K-pop’s most recognizable performers.

Still, the sharp reactions show how quickly chart numbers can reshape public conversation even around an idol with a legendary name like Taemin. The debate now highlights a bigger question in K-pop: should success be measured only by domestic streaming charts, or should global stages, long-term influence, loyal fans, and career longevity also matter?

Sources: Pann