The controversy surrounding Heeseung leaving ENHYPEN while remaining at BELIFT LAB as a solo artist continues to dominate discussions among K-pop fans. The sudden announcement came without any warning signs, leaving many supporters shocked. In response, some fans organized protests and even sent protest trucks in hopes of convincing the company to bring him back to the group.
These protest trucks have reminded many fans of a similar demonstration organized by supporters nearly 17 years ago. Today, seeing K-pop stars appear on major American television shows is fairly common. However, during the late 2000s the era of second-generation K-pop idols it was extremely rare for K-pop stories to appear on local news broadcasts in the United States, such as those in Seattle, Washington.
Back in September 2009, Jay Park was forced to leave 2PM after old online comments resurfaced in which he criticized Korea. The comments had been written in 2005 when he was still a trainee, three years before debuting with the group. Following the controversy and his departure announcement, Jay Park left South Korea and returned to his hometown of Edmonds in the state of Washington.
Local broadcaster KOMO News in Seattle reported on the situation at the time, covering both Jay Park’s departure and the large-scale protests organized by fans demanding his return. The outlet described how one of South Korea’s biggest pop stars was suddenly living quietly in his parents’ modest home in Edmonds. Although the group was not widely known in the United States, they were hugely popular among Korean teenagers.
After the report aired, KOMO News experienced an unexpected surge in online traffic as fans from around the world visited the station’s website. Reporter Ray Lane later commented that the overwhelming response from fans caused their servers to crash. In one particularly dramatic display of support, an airplane even flew over the Seattle area carrying a banner meant to catch Jay Park’s attention.
The banner read “J, WHAT TIME IS IT?” a reference to Hottest Time of the Day, the debut album released by 2PM. Meanwhile in South Korea, fans held silent protests while carrying banners calling for the idol’s reinstatement. Despite the passionate demonstrations, Jay Park ultimately did not return to the group, while 2PM continued promotions with six members.
Born Park Jaebeom on April 25, 1987, in Edmonds, Washington, Jay Park is a Korean-American artist known as a rapper, singer, songwriter, dancer, producer, and entrepreneur. Before entering the K-pop industry, he was part of the b-boy crew Art of Movement and was recruited by JYP Entertainment in 2004. He officially debuted as the leader of 2PM in 2008.
After leaving the group due to the scandal, Jay Park rebuilt his career as an independent solo artist. He later achieved success with hit songs such as Abandoned, Tonight, Star, and Mommae, as well as successful albums including Worldwide and Everything You Wanted. Over time, he became widely recognized as one of the figures who helped bring Korean hip-hop to a broader global audience and also served as a producer and judge on Show Me the Money.
In addition to his music career, Jay Park has built a reputation as a successful entrepreneur. He founded influential labels such as AOMG, H1GHR MUSIC, and later More Vision, which continues to develop new artists, including the group LNGSHOT in 2026. He also became the first Asian-American artist to sign with Roc Nation, the entertainment company founded by Jay-Z, while expanding into global business ventures such as beverage brands and other international projects.
Sources: K14
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