“Burning Sun Scandal” Choi Jong-hoon Resumes Activities In Japan, “I’m Greeting For The First Time In 5 Years”

Choi Jong-hoon recently opened a fandom community on fanicon, Japan’s largest fan community platform, under the name “HUNIYA”.

Choi Jong-hoon said, “It’s been 5 years since I last greeted you guys. Thanks to each and every message you sent, I was able to gain courage and show you this healthy side of me. Thank you so much”, adding “I’m looking forward to communicating with you all through ‘HUNIYA’.”

He added, “I’ll do my best to create a bright future with you guys, so please continue to support me. Please take care of me”.

Fanicon is a platform where famous people can communicate with fans through group chats or live broadcasts. You need to pay a monthly subscription of 500 yen (about 5,000 won) to use it.

Knowing this, netizens poured criticism, such as “Choi Jong-hoon is creating a place to communicate with Japanese fans and earn money”. They mentioned his criminal record of sex crimes, saying, “There would be no supply if there was no demand in the first place”, That’s terrible”, etc.

On the SNS account believed to belong to Choi Jong-hoon, fans and netizens are having a war. While netizens criticized Choi Jong-hoon for being “shameless”, his Japanese fans responded, saying “It would be a good thing to support someone who wants to live a new life with a broad mind”. This SNS account has been switched to private.

Meanwhile, Choi Jong-hoon left F.T. Island and retired from the entertainment industry in March 2019 after bening involved in the Burning Sun Scandal.

He was sent to trial in January and March 2016 with Jung Joon-young, former MD of Burning Sun Kim, officer worker Kwon, and former entertainment agency employee Heo on charges of sexual assault and illegal filming. Choi Jong-hoon began serving behind bars for two years and six months starting in May 2019 and was released in November 2021. 

Source: Nate