On September 29 KST, Shuhua updated her account with a casual set of photos. While most seemed ordinary, the final image immediately caught attention it showed a table with a grill pan and someone’s hand cooking pork belly. Fans quickly speculated that the hand belonged to Soojin, citing the tattoo and nail style as proof.
The possibility of Shuhua openly sharing a moment with Soojin surprised many, as it would be the first time an active i-dle member publicly posted something linked to her since Soojin’s departure. Debate grew over whether the photo was recent some argued it was taken around September 3 after Soojin’s “BADITUDE” stage due to the red nails, while others insisted it could be an older image since Soojin often wore similar nail colors.
Soojin debuted with i-dle in 2018 but halted activities in 2021 after being accused of school bullying. Although she denied the allegations, actress Seo Shin Ae came forward with her own account, intensifying public backlash. Soojin eventually left the group, and her contract with CUBE Entertainment was terminated. After two years of silence, she resumed her career as a soloist in November 2023, but the bullying controversy continues to shadow her name.
Because of this history, fans reacted strongly to Shuhua’s post. Comments included: “The group suffered because of a member’s scandal—was it necessary to reveal this?” “She didn’t leave for good reasons, what about the victim?” and “It’s fine to meet in private, but why announce it publicly?”
On the other hand, some defended Shuhua, arguing: “Who she meets is her personal freedom,” “It wasn’t even a selfie, just a hand in a picture,” and “It’s been years since Soojin left—linking this to defending bullying is overblown.”
What seemed like an innocent snapshot has unexpectedly ignited heated debate within the fandom.
Meanwhile, i-dle renewed their contracts last year and are set to release a Japanese EP and kick off their first Japanese arena tour in October.
Sources: allkpop, daum
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