Ko Ji-yong, a former member of the group SECHSKIES, has hit a roadblock ahead of his return to the stage after 10 years. The fandom has publicly come out against his rejoining the group.
On the 2nd, a statement titled “We Strongly Oppose Mr. Ko Ji-yong Rejoining SECHSKIES and Resuming All Activities” was posted on the SECHSKIES Gallery on DC Inside.
In a statement, the SECHSKIES Fan Union (hereafter, the Fan Union) said, “We express our deep regret over Mr. Ko Ji-yong’s recently controversial attempt to join SECHSKIES activities and take part in the group’s reunion.”
The Fan Union said, “Since its debut in 1997, SECHSKIES has been a precious name safeguarded through the members’ and fans’ blood, sweat, tears and affection. However, even after Mr. Ko Ji-yong announced that he was leaving group activities to focus on his primary career, he used the brand value of SECHSKIES and the fandom’s affection without authorization for personal gain and commercial promotion.”
It went on to demand that Ko Ji-yong stop trying to rejoin the group and engaging in related activities, as well as cease commercial and personal activities that use SECHSKIES’ trademark rights and the group’s name.
The Fan Union said, “We cannot tolerate any attempt to use the group’s name again when convenient, without showing sincere commitment since declaring that he would prioritize his primary career and stay out of group activities. His rejoining the group, pushed through despite betraying the fans’ trust, will only damage the group’s image and divide the fandom.”
The statement was released shortly after news broke that Ko Ji-yong would take part in a performance. According to his agency, Mountain Movement Story Co., Ko will join SECHSKIES members Lee Jai-jin and Jang Su-won for “THE TREE in INSPIRE – Jekki’s Untold Story,” which will be held at INSPIRE Arena in Incheon on December 15–16.
At the performance, the three are expected to share stories with fans through music and conversation—stories they have been unable to share for a long time. It has drawn attention in particular because it will be the first time since 2016, or about 10 years, that Ko Ji-yong has taken the stage with SECHSKIES members.
Ko Ji-yong debuted with SECHSKIES in 1997. After the group disbanded in 2000, he left the entertainment industry and became a businessman. Even when SECHSKIES reunited through MBC’s “Infinite Challenge” in 2016, he only made a brief appearance on stage and did not take part in the group’s activities afterward.
The fandom has also opposed Ko Ji-yong in the past. In 2018, the Fan Union claimed that the company where Ko was then working and its business associates had used SECHSKIES’ brand and fandom to promote their business, and asked YG Entertainment, the group’s agency at the time, to remove Ko from SECHSKIES’ profiles on various web portals.
Ko Ji-yong is once again facing a backlash from the fandom, as he did in 2018. Having announced a performance with SECHSKIES members after 10 years, he is now the focus of attention as people wonder whether he will be able to complete it as scheduled.
This article has been translated by GripLabs Mingo AI.
