SHINee’s Key faces mounting criticism over silence amid ‘injection auntie’ controversy

On December 12, the production team of MBC’s long-running reality show I Live Alone, where Key is a regular cast member, acknowledged the situation.

SHINee member Key has found himself at the center of growing online scrutiny after remaining silent for over a week amid allegations linked to a controversial illegal medical practice case involving comedian Park Na Rae.

According to Koreaboo, while no formal accusations have been made directly against the idol, his alleged association with an unlicensed medical practitioner, dubbed the “injection auntie” by netizens, has fueled speculation and frustration among fans.

The controversy first erupted after Park Na Rae became embroiled in allegations concerning illegal medical procedures administered by an unlicensed individual.

As discussions unfolded online, claims surfaced suggesting that SHINee’s Key may have had a close relationship with the same individual, intensifying public curiosity and concern. Since then, Key has neither addressed the allegations nor issued a clarification, despite repeated calls from fans urging transparency.

On December 12, the production team of MBC’s long-running reality show I Live Alone, where Key is a regular cast member, acknowledged the situation. The team stated, “We are currently checking and will provide further details as soon as we confirm,” when asked whether Key’s segment would air as scheduled. The cautious response has only added to the uncertainty surrounding his position.

What has further shocked viewers is Key’s previously established image. On I Live Alone, the singer has openly spoken about his mother’s career as a nurse, often emphasising professionalism and proper medical ethics. This has made the current allegations involving injections and unlicensed practices particularly jarring for longtime fans.

Online reactions have grown increasingly critical as the silence continues. Netizens questioned why Key has not followed the example of others who were tangentially linked to the controversy.

“Articles keep coming out, and Onew and Jung Jae Hyung have already released statements… isn’t he being a bit too quiet?” one comment read. Others speculated that Key’s ongoing tour might be influencing the delay, suggesting that addressing the issue now could negatively affect scheduled performances.

In contrast, fellow SHINee member Onew has already issued a denial. His agency, Griffin Entertainment, released an official statement clarifying that Onew visited a Sinsa-dong hospital in April 2022 for skin care treatment, unaware of any licensing controversy at the time.

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The agency stressed that the signed CD given was merely a token of appreciation and strongly condemned the spread of false rumours.

Netizens praised Onew's response as timely and clear. Comments such as “This is a clean statement” and “Now this is a normal response” flooded online forums, while comparisons with Key’s silence became unavoidable. Some questioned why even smaller agencies were able to respond promptly, while SM Entertainment has yet to make any move regarding Key.