Let's take a step back for a moment

I know with all that has been going on in the past few hours, many people are still awake following everything. With all of the information flying around, it becomes a challenge to sort truth from rumors. I want to keep this as factual as possible, so that all the readers looking for a news source can rest assured I have checked all of this information against more than one source. First, I'll give a brief background beyond what was given in Rome's previous post, to bring everyone up to speed.


On September 4, 2009, netizens brought to the surface comments Jaebum left on his myspace page several years before, while he was wtilla trainee for JYPE. Koreans reacted strongly to these comments, as they were deemed to be of a hurtful nature to Koreans and Korea. Shortly following this incident, it was announced that Jaebum's MC position on the TV show "Nodaji" would be cancelled and a replacement would be found for him. During this time, Jaebum wrote an apology message to everyone saying how sorry he felt for those comments he made years prior.

With the public still in an uproar, it was soon announced that all of 2PM's activities would be cancelled for the time being. It was also announced that the final episode of 2PM's hit show, "Wild Bunny," would be postponed. With all of the confusion about the issue, with many fans speculating and many people petitioning for the leader to leave, JYPE issued a statement on September 7 clarifying that they did NOT plan on Jaebum leaving the group due to this matter.

On September 8, Jaebum announced, via his fancafe, that he will be leaving 2PM. He took a flight that left Korea at 6:30 PM Korean time, and his destination is Seattle.

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Okay, that's basically the story. Now, there are several things we DO and many others we do NOT know about this situation, and only time can offer us the answers.

Anyone who has been following the news over the past several hours has probably heard many rumors regarding what happened at the airport and such. I would like to dispel some of those rumors and clarify, to the best of my ability, what I can.

What We Know:
- Jaebum went to the airport to take a flight back to Seattle.
- Hundreds of fans showed up to show support for him, but, more importantly, to try to get him to stay.
- The other members of 2PM were at the airport.
- Jaebum said he planned on resting with his family upon his arrival in Seattle.
- As he left, his last words were "I'm Sorry" with a bow.

What We Haven't Confirmed/Is False:
- 2PM arrived at the airport in suits.
- Wooyoung fainted at the airport and was taken/is being taken to the hospital.
- The official explanation behind Jaebum's departure, and the repercussions.
- Junho will take over the role as the leader of 2PM.

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Well, that's certainly not an exhaustive list of what we do and do not know, but it covers some of the major points.

I would like to begin this section not by speculating what COULD HAVE happened (but I have several theories...) but rather by sending out my condolences to Park Jaebum. After being personally selected by JYP himself, after training for five years, after seeing it through their first year, after becoming extremely popular through his antics on variety shows, Jaebum became immensely loved by his fans. Certain comments he made in the past surfaced soon after the one year anniversary of the group, and te reactions to these comments rapidly spread out of control, and led to Jaebum's departure. In a time like this, people look for someone to blame. I would like to make it clear that Korean citizens are not to blame in this situation. By the actions of a small group of people, this has happened, but that does not mean the entire citizenry of the country is at fault. It's clear to me that Jaebum has suffered more than any human being should over a matter such as this.

Understandably, his statements were not the most tactful way to voice his feelings, but he was much younger and at a stage in his life where he did not even know if he would ever become an idol, if he would ever debut. Coming from America, he felt alienated in this new country, and was not adjusting well enough. His remark seems to be nothing more "scandalous" than a remark any student that transfers from one school to another would make. However, due to his status as an idol, his words are scrutinized much more than the hypothetical transfer student.

What shocks me about this situation is the suddenness of it all. Less than one day after JYPE states that Jaebum will not be leaving 2PM, he makes a statement saying he is indeed leaving. This is quickly confirmed by JYP with Newsen. Hours after his announcement, Jaebum is at Incheon Airport, boarding his flight back to the US.

...I'm really sorry guys, I had a lot lot more to write, but it's an odd hour, and my thoughts are jumbled enough due to this without taking into account that my mind stops working when I am tired. I will make every effort to update with the rest of my thoughts by the end of the day, at which time, I would hope I can have more information for you.

-Sana

Rome's Rant: The Jaebum Thing

When I first heard about this, I thought, "damn, how's he gonna get out of this."

This is how I view this issue: It's like finding out your lover of 2 years cheated on you during the first or second month of being together.  Even though they did it a long time ago, it still stings like hell. What do you do? It happened a long time ago, and you know for sure now that he/she deeply cares for and about you, but the fact remains that he/she cheated on you...

Many blog entries I've read are feeling for Jaebum. I'm actually feeling more for his fans and his group. Even though he is being hit by the public, how did his members and the people around him feel when they first found out about the comments he made? I'm sure those are the people who are hurt most, because they know him personally; and, it just sucks to find something like that out about a close friend, regardless of how long ago the hurtful action happened.

The second thing I thought of was Nickkhun, and other ppl who've gone through a similar adjusting process. But, something to consider with Nickkhun is that he doesn't have the "Korean" aspect to him like Jaebum does. And so, I think part of the hurt of the public is over them feeling a Korean is rejecting Korea. Regardless of whether he is Korean-American.

I'm not offering any solutions to this. Because, quite frankly, it sucks (for lack of a better word). I'm not Korean; however, when I read those myspace comments, I was actually taken aback a little.  Part of the Korean public might be over-reacting - what with writing up a petition to send him back to America (lol), but I feel for them. I really do. They feel betrayed. But something as extreme as the petition kinda translates over to the lover scenario. Some people would want their significant other to pack up and live elsewhere. It's a knee jerk reaction of sorts. But once the situation has been given some time and thought... there comes a resolution.

In the public's defense, it's one of those issues where an apology helps but doesn't come close to fixing anything.  In this case, people can only let time do its thing.
I'm undecided. I dont know what stance to take to be honest but I know I'm not, at all, for the petition to bring him back to the states, it's laughable. Again, I think with time the part of the Korean public in favor of the petition will think it over and be willing to forgive Jaebum.

When all is said and done he did write that as a kid. I have a younger brother and lord knows he has said and done things that have been very hurtful, but were brushed off because he's a kid. But again, for the deeply cutting stuff, it takes time to get over.

I highly doubt 2PM is going anywhere over this. Jaebum might have to do more than an apology to get back in the general public's good graces, but this is only a set back for 2pm, not a career breaker.
-Rome