On the most recent episode of entertainment show Omniscient Interfering View, episode 306 which aired on July 7, the members of ENHYPEN guest starred and shared a behind-the-scenes look at their new dorms, travel content, and at their recent performance with J.Y. Park and Bang Si Hyuk.
The episode shows that, after rehearsing with the two older men, Bang Si Hyuk paid a visit to the members of ENHYPEN backstage. Upon seeing the BIGHIT founder, the members stand up and bow while greeting him brightly. He then sits down beside them and it’s shared that since he produces a lot of ENHYPEN’s music, he seems to communicate with the idols a lot about their music.
Si Hyuk asks the members about the tour they just returned from, and if they did well. Overall, even though Bang is a high-level staff member of their label, ENHYPEN’s members and Si Hyuk seem to be friendly and comfortable with each other. He even uses honorifics with the members, and they use the title “Bang Si Hyuk PD-nim” (“Producer Bang Si Hyuk”) when addressing him. They also share that they have a lot of respect for the CEO, and he respects them in return.
The idols and Bang continue to talk about the performance in a casual manner, sharing several laughs and light-hearted moments. When he leaves, he even gives the members a heart gesture.
The reason that netizens are so frustrated by this interaction is how much it contrasts to how Si Hyuk allegedly treated the members of NewJeans. A couple of months back, it was revealed that the CEO would apparently intentionally ignore the female idols, further spurring on the feud between Si Hyuk and ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin. The claims that he has prosopagnosia (the inability to remember and recognize faces) were met with scorn when it was used as an excuse for his rudeness.
Here’s how people are reacting to the interaction between ENHYPEN’s members and Bang Si Hyuk.
- “Every time I see something like this, I just remember that he didn’t accept NewJeans’ greeting.”
- “?? He’s so shameless.”
- “Has his facial recognition disorder gone away?”
- “I guess it’s selective respect.”
- “He didn’t accept greetings from NewJeans babies.”
- “Oh, I don’t think he has a facial recognition disorder???”
- “But he ignored the greetings of NewJeans.”
- “Then please use honorifics for the other company’s group, don’t ignore them.. 😢”
- “Is facial recognition disorder optional?”
You can watch the whole episode with English subtitles here. The part with ENHYPEN and Bang Si Hyuk starts around 1:07:50.
