Controversial K-Pop Idol To Return To Stage—Backed By “The Next Bang Si Hyuk”

Will he be able to put his multiple scandals behind him?

Comedian Yoon Hyung Bin‘s aspiration to become “the next Bang Si Hyuk“ in the K-Pop business is opening new doors for former WINNER member Nam Taehyun, disgraced for his drug use and other scandals involving his ex-girlfriend and influencer Seo Eun Woo (formerly Seo Min Jae).

On April 23, 2025 (KST), Yoon and other stars appeared at a press conference held to promote his upcoming event, “K-Pop Week In Hongdae.” There, Yoon told the media outlets that he has been producing K-Pop idols for five years and that he wants to turn Hongdae (a popular area in Seoul) into a “K-Pop mecca.”

I am a comedian, but I also dream of becoming the next Bang Si Hyuk. I’ve been producing K-Pop idols for five years now. One thing I really wanted to do during the production process was to turn Hongdae into a K-Pop mecca. I was inspired by Shin-Okubo’s K-Pop town in Japan. There are many active K-Pop live theaters there, which made me wonder, ‘Shouldn’t Korea—the birthplace of K-Pop—also have spaces like this too?’ I kept thinking, ‘Why do idols need to go all the way to Japan to perform?’ I figured Hongdae would be the perfect place to bring this vision to life.

— Yoon Hyung Bin

It was also noted that Yoon had planned the event to take place before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. After having been postponed so long, “K-Pop Week In Hongdae” is set to happen in May 2025. A total of 12 teams are performing, including idols like Lun8, MBLAQ’s Yang Seungho, Teen Top’s Chunji, CLC’s Yeeun, and the controversial Nam Taehyun.

It’s a big decision for idols to perform in small venues. It’s not an easy thing. The artists participating are those who genuinely want to communicate with fans up close…K-Pop is such a diverse genre. I wanted artists who could truly showcase that diversity and who could engage closely with audiences in Hongdae. We looked at a long list of performers and invited those with unique colors. In Japan, there are venues of various sizes—100 seats, 500 seats—that are well-established. Artists can perform anytime, and fans can easily watch them. That’s the kind of venue I want to create. We’re currently renovating the ‘Yoon Hyung Bin Small Theater’ into a new K-Pop stage.

— Yoon Hyung Bin

The inclusion of Nam Taehyun—who received a one-year suspended sentence in January 2024 for drug charges—sparked mixed reactions. Yoon addressed the issue and ultimately defended the criminal idol saying, “He’s been doing a lot of good deeds recently, and online sentiment was more positive than I expected.”

Nam Tae Hyun Posts Message Promising To Return With Music After Receiving Suspended Sentence For Drug Use

I understand how sensitive the matter is. But I did some research and saw that he’s been doing a lot of good deeds recently, and online sentiment was more positive than I expected. When I met with him personally, I could tell he was truly remorseful and wanted to perform again. I wanted to give him a chance. He was concerned that his participation might make others uncomfortable, but I felt he should at least greet his remaining fans. That’s why I proposed a small-scale performance, and that’s how it came together.

— Yoon Hyung Bin

Nam Taehyun has also taken to his Instagram to announce his return to stage.

Read more about Nam Taehyun’s ex-girlfriend accusing him of revenge porn and what the idol had to say about it:

Former Idol Nam Taehyun Responds To Revenge Porn Accusations From Ex Girlfriend