ENHYPEN leader Jungwon became the center of online controversy after responding to criticism over a t-shirt he wore in a dance challenge video posted on TikTok on July 18, 2026. Fans noticed that the t-shirt featured Borat, the fictional character created by Sacha Baron Cohen for the 2006 film Borat! Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. The film has been widely criticized for portraying Kazakhstan through offensive stereotypes, and since the dance challenge was created by a Kazakh choreographer, many fans tried to inform Jungwon about the problem. On July 19, 2026, the singer held a livestream where he apologized, explaining that he had not known the shirt’s context and had thrown it away after learning why it is offensive.
JUNGWON I LOVE YOU AND IM PROUD OF YOU THANK YOU FOR BEING THE BEST LEADER AND IM SO SORRY
🐈Because we haven't spoken about it definitively until now, some people were saying things like we haven't properly addressed it, and they've been talking a lot about the number of… pic.twitter.com/LkYK7baSFC
— 🦊♡🐰ྀི | fan acc (@silentstarsnk2) July 9, 2026
“The reason I actually went live today is the t-shirt I wore yesterday seemed to make some people uncomfortable, and I genuinely didn’t know,” the ENHYPEN member said. “I thought it was just a regular t-shirt, but apparently it’s related to a movie that many people in Kazakhstan find very offensive. I heard it’s a black comedy that portrays them in a bad way.”
He admitted that his lack of knowledge did not excuse the situation, promising to reflect on his actions. Many viewers praised his willingness to speak personally, instead of relying on a written statement released through his agency. He also addressed Kazakh fans, communicating directly to them in a time zone that felt convenient.
“I wanted to apologize first thing this morning, before the concert. But when I checked the time in Kazakhstan, it was still the middle of the night there,” the artist added. “So I thought it’d be better to go live when people there would actually be awake to see it. I think it’s around 8 or 9 a.m. there now. So as soon as I got back, I started this live. I’m sincerely sorry, and I’ll reflect on this.”
The apology sparked comparisons with former NCT member Mark Lee, who faced criticism in June 2026 after wearing clothing featuring the Confederate flag. At the time, his self-founded label, Upper Room, issued a written apology on his behalf. Some internet users argued that the statement felt impersonal because Mark did not address the controversy himself, and because he is the only artist and owner of the agency.
