Dingo Music is under fire after a serious blunder involving K-pop group HIGHLIGHT during its “2025 Killing Voice” concert. The controversy erupted when the opening video of the concert featured an outdated group photo that included former member Yong Junhyung—who left the group in 2019 after being involved in the infamous “Burning Sun” scandal—while omitting current leader Yoon Doojoon.
Fans quickly noticed the issue and expressed outrage online, pointing out that using a member who exited the group due to a criminal scandal while leaving out an active and key member like Yoon Doojoon was not only disrespectful but baffling. Critics emphasized that such an error goes beyond a technical oversight—it reflects a lack of diligence and understanding of the group’s current identity. The photo used dates back to at least seven years ago, making the mistake even harder to excuse.
In response, Dingo Music issued a public apology via social media on October 18. The company acknowledged its mistake, stating, “There was an error during the introduction of HIGHLIGHT’s lineup in the opening video, where a former member who had already left the team was included in the image.” They continued, “This was a clear failure on our part to properly review the content before airing. We deeply apologize to the HIGHLIGHT members, their agency, and fans for the hurt and confusion caused.”
Despite the apology, fan backlash has not subsided. Many found the explanation unconvincing and the act of using such an old photo careless. Comments flooded in criticizing the use of a “2018-era photo in a 2025 concert,” while questioning why the leader of the group was missing. Some fans were especially angered by the fact that the apology failed to directly address Yoon Doojoon’s exclusion.
Even during the concert, member Yang Yoseob had to briefly address the situation, confirming that the team had been approached with an apology backstage. However, that did little to soothe fans who expected better from a major media brand like Dingo Music.
Yong Junhyung, the center of the outrage, left HIGHLIGHT in 2019 after admitting to watching illegal hidden camera footage shared by singer Jung Joon Young. His involvement in that case led to his departure from the group and years of negative publicity.
For many, Dingo Music’s mishandling of this situation raises serious concerns about quality control, especially when dealing with sensitive matters involving artist reputations and fan trust. With K-pop fandoms being highly attentive to details, such oversights not only damage credibility but also risk long-term alienation from dedicated supporters. As of now, Dingo Music has promised to strengthen its review and approval process, but only time will tell if these words will be matched by meaningful action.
Sources: Koreaboo,Soompi
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