EVAN, formerly known as Heeseung of ENHYPEN, has become the center of online discussion after comments he made about his interaction with Iroha caught fans by surprise.
The conversation started after EVAN appeared in a TikTok dance video with Iroha, a member of ILLIT. The pair performed to “ICONIC BY MISTAKE,” a collaboration track involving ILLIT, KATSEYE, and LE SSERAFIM, Koreaboo reported.
While the dance video already sparked debate among viewers, attention quickly shifted to messages EVAN later shared with fans. In those messages, he said that Iroha “sunbaenim” helped him during filming and mentioned that more videos they recorded together would be released in the future.
The use of the word “sunbaenim” immediately became a talking point. In Korean entertainment, the title is generally used to address someone who debuted earlier or has more industry experience.
Since ENHYPEN debuted years before ILLIT, many fans were surprised to see EVAN use the honorific when referring to Iroha.
Fans Debate EVAN’s Unexpected Comment
Some fans viewed the comment negatively. They argued that the joke seemed to ignore EVAN’s past accomplishments as a member of ENHYPEN and felt it downplayed the years he spent building his career with the group.
The discussion quickly spread across social media, where supporters and critics shared different interpretations of his words.
Others, however, believed the comment was clearly meant as humor. They pointed out that Iroha debuted after ENHYPEN and that EVAN was likely making a playful joke rather than seriously referring to her as his senior in the industry.
According to Kdrip, the debate also reignited conversations about EVAN’s history with ENHYPEN.
His direct messages to fans sparked strong reactions, with some supporters expressing concern that references to his former group were being overlooked. Others felt the criticism was unnecessary and argued that fans were reading too deeply into a lighthearted interaction. Many fans found the situation amusing instead of controversial.
The idea of Iroha, still considered one of the younger and newer idols in the industry, being called “sunbaenim” by someone formerly associated with ENHYPEN created a humorous contrast that quickly gained attention online.