ZB1 Zhang Hao Garners Mixed Reactions From Koreans After Past Issue Resurfaced
ZB1 Zhang Hao, the first Chinese to become the center of a K-pop group from an audition program is drawing mixed reactions from Koreans after finding out that he was involved in THIS controversy in the past.
ZB1 Zhang Hao Draws Mixed Reactions For Winning #1 in 'Boys Planet'
The debut group of Mnet's idol survival program, "Boys Planet" has finally been decided!
On April 20, the official TOP9 ranking was revealed during the finale of the show, which introduced the winners as the final lineup who will be debuting in a new group called ZB1 (ZEROBASEONE).
Among the 18 finalists, the trainee who sat atop surprised viewers, who is none other than the Chinese trainee Zhang Hao. He made history as the first foreigner to do so among Mnet's program-produced groups.
ALSO READ: 3 Reasons 'Boys Planet' Finale Disappoints Viewers: 'Why Is Sung Hanbin Not #1?'
As a result, he will automatically debut as the team's center, receive the killing part of their title song and have his solo song– some of the promised rewards from the show.
Although a lot of K-pop enthusiasts who support the show attested that Zhang Hao is undoubtedly deserving to be the Top 1 due to his impeccable talent and skills, some of the viewers were skeptical for ONE REASON— the fact that he's Chinese.
Concerns are rising as many Chinese idols have shown incomprehensible moves amid growing anti-China sentiment over China's cultural invasion, which has been consistently pointed out since the 2010s.
ZB1 Zhang Hao Faces 1st Controversy Ahead Official Debut
As a result, Zhang Hao's past controversial move has been re-examined.
In online communities, the soon-to-debut idol raised brows after it was known that he attended the 100th-anniversary celebration of the China Communist Party (CCP) hosted by the committee of the Fujian Normal University of the Communist Party.
The Gongcheongdan is a youth group of the Chinese Communist Party that claims anti-American aid, and that China helped North Korea against the U.S. by participating in the Korean War.
Zhang Hao is said to perform a song dedicated to the revolutionary martyrs in celebration of the Communist Party's centennial birthday.
When news broke that Zhang Hao sang in a youth group of the Chinese Communist Party, which claims anti-U.S. aid, Internet users criticized, saying:
- "Please stop watching Chinese."
- "Do you want to come to a capitalist country to make money while praising the Communist Party?"
In particular, Korean fans seem to be more reluctant as they make their debut as a group center by ranking first in the final.
Earlier, Chinese idol singer EXO Lay, f(x) Victoria, Kyulkyung, (G)I-DLE Yuqi and more who publicly showed support for One China were heavily criticized, thus, Koreans were raising concerns about Zhang Hao.
READ MORE: K-Media Outlet Drops Infographics About Chinese Idols Criticized for Supporting China + Why People Want Them Banned in Korea
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Written by Eunice Dawson.
