Koyote member Shinji’s fiancé Moon Won has been facing several backlash and raising concerns ahead of their upcoming wedding.
A video titled 'Who’s Taking Our Shinji Away?' was uploaded on July 2 to Shinji’s YouTube channel What’s Up With Shinji? and garnered over 1.35 million views in just one day.
MoonOne said, “A lot of people now know me as Shinji’s boyfriend and fiancé. But I didn’t know Shinji was such a famous person. I realized I should treat her better.” He also revealed that he’s divorced and has a daughter, and had told Shinji about this after their relationship had deepened, saying, “At first she didn’t know, but as things got serious, I thought I should be honest.”
Many questioned how he could not know that Shinji is famous, given that Koyote has been active for 27 years and is widely loved in Korea, while others found it rude for him to say such things in front of Koyote themselves. There was also criticism over his not being upfront about his past from the beginning.
Following the video’s release, a wave of allegations about his past began surfacing online. Individuals claiming to be his army colleagues, schoolmates, and acquaintances began sharing stories, with some alleging that he used to bully them during his army days.
More than 30,000 comments were posted, with a large portion expressing concern or opposition to the couple’s marriage. One netizen wrote, “If he’s the person I know, until recently, he worked in real estate scams. I don’t know if ‘scam’ is the right word, but he promoted property deals without a license. He took commissions under the table and eventually became successful.”
However, Moon took to Instagram and issued a statement clarifying his stance. He wrote in the letter, “After the news of my marriage was announced, I came across many stories about myself. I was concerned about whether my own memories might be distorted, so I needed time to check and confirm the facts accurately. I ask for your understanding.”
He added, “First, I deeply apologize to Koyote fans and Shinji’s fans who felt discomfort or disappointment due to my careless words and actions in the YouTube video uploaded on July 2, as well as the controversies surrounding me. I feel especially sorry to Shinji, who should be receiving nothing but congratulations, and to everyone who sent us their well-wishes. As someone who will be walking alongside her as her partner, I am sorry and ashamed that my shortcomings have caused concern and misunderstandings among fans.”
He also stated that after wrapping up, he had gone through the comments left by listeners and acknowledged the impact of their careless words and behavior in the video. He admitted that his close relationship with Shinji had led them to overlook the feelings of those who care for her, and they were now deeply reflecting on their actions. They also expressed sincere apologies to Kim Jong Min and Bbaek Ga for having behaved disrespectfully.
In addressing the accusation of having worked in real estate brokerage without a license, the individual confirmed the claim to be true.
He explained that during a difficult period, he had taken up the work on a recommendation, unaware at the time that it was illegal to operate without proper certification. Admitting it was entirely his own fault, he offered no excuses and extended a heartfelt apology to anyone who felt let down, vowing to take full responsibility for his actions.
“Additionally, it is true that I married my ex-wife after she became pregnant, but the claims that I was two-timing at the time are also completely false. Regarding the name change allegations, I would like to clarify that Park Sang Moon is my legal name. I simply changed my stage name from Gi Ryeon to MoonOne and have never changed my legal name,” he also added in the letter.
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