Surprising Apology from 5th-Gen Idol After Dorm Controversy: ‘I Hope You Don’t Take It Seriously’

It was recently announced that a couple of members from the 5th generation girl group tripleS had relocated from their dorms. This decision was made during non-promotional periods, with some members opting to live elsewhere and only returning to the dorms when the group is actively promoting.

This unorthodox setup has stirred up criticism and worry among fans, who highly value the customary dorm lifestyle in K-Pop culture.

THIS 5th-gen girl group announced their shift from from the traditional dorm-living model to a more independent lifestyle. https://t.co/IIfBKKKesp

— KpopStarz (@kpopstarz) June 13, 2024

One of the most popular members of the group, Kim Yooyeon, was among those who left. She responded to the criticism by issuing an apology to fans, where she explained her reasons for leaving and reassured them of her dedication to the group.

I fvcking HATE you all pic.twitter.com/LPMG0q0jAt

— 하빈 something (@kkumHighley) June 13, 2024

“I’m writing this after lots of consideration. I’m so sorry and sad to think that many fans were worried and bothered about what we said on Signal yesterday. Firstly, I think we did make a big statement, but anyway, next month I have lots of overseas schedules and I think I’ll be moving back into the dorms within the next two months at most. Due to some family matters, I moved out of the dorms into my family home, which is near to the office in Seoul. I hope you guys will consider it as a vacation of sorts for me. I hope you guys don’t think too much of it. When I move back into the dorms after one or two months, it’ll be shown on Signal too. And even during non-promotional periods, I’m always with the members from lunch to dinner, going to the company daily and practicing, so you don’t have to worry too much.”- Kim Yooyeon

Living in dormitories is a crucial aspect of K-Pop culture, especially for newly formed groups. It promotes strong relationships among members and is considered crucial in building teamwork and discipline.

Despite tripleS debuting as a full group in 2024, there was a sense of prematureness among fans when the members began to move out. The departure of even a few members from the dorms raised concerns, emphasizing the deep attachment fans have towards traditional K-Pop customs.