SECHSKIES fandom opposes Ko Ji-yong's return to group activities

The SECHSKIES Fan Alliance released a statement on the 2nd opposing Ko Ji-yong's participation in group activities and reunion attempts. This follows news that Ko will perform with Lee Jai-jin and Jang Su-won at the INSPIRE Arena in Incheon on December 15–16.

The fandom has taken a direct stand against news of former SECHSKIES member Ko Ji-yong's return to the stage for the first time in approximately 10 years. Following a 2018 demand to remove Ko Ji-yong from the group's profile on portal sites, fans have now released a formal statement opposing his participation in team activities and any attempts at reunion. The controversy surrounding Ko Ji-yong's return is intensifying as past conflicts involving the group's brand and the fandom resurface ahead of the upcoming reunion event.

In a statement released on the 2nd, the SECHSKIES Fan Alliance expressed deep regret and declared a strong opposition to Ko Ji-yong's joining of SECHSKIES activities and his attempts to participate in the team's reunion. The alliance demanded that officials cease efforts to facilitate his joining, opposing not only his inclusion in the team but also all future participation in group activities. They further asserted that commercial and personal activities utilizing SECHSKIES' trademark and team name must also stop.

This statement follows news that Ko Ji-yong will appear on an official stage alongside other SECHSKIES members. Ko Ji-yong is scheduled to perform with Lee Jai-jin and Jang Su-won at 'THE TREE in INSPIRE - SECHSKIES' Untold Stories,' which will be held at the INSPIRE Arena in Incheon on December 15–16. The event is organized ahead of SECHSKIES' 30th anniversary in 2027, and this marks the first time the three will stand on stage together under the SECHSKIES name.

However, it is difficult to interpret this performance as a full reunion of SECHSKIES. Eun Ji-won and Kim Jae-duck will not participate in the event, and while a stage featuring the three members is planned, an official reunion of the entire group has not been confirmed. Nevertheless, attention is focused on the event as it marks the first time in about 10 years that Ko Ji-yong will meet SECHSKIES members on an official stage since the 2016 MBC 'Infinite Challenge' reunion project.

The issue stems from the long-standing conflict between Ko Ji-yong and the fandom. In 2018, the Fan Alliance released a statement requesting the removal of Ko Ji-yong from the SECHSKIES profile on portal sites. At that time, fans expressed strong dissatisfaction, claiming that the company Ko Ji-yong was employed by and its business associates utilized the SECHSKIES brand and fandom for business promotion. The core of the backlash was that the team's name and fandom should not be used for an individual's private business unrelated to group activities.

YG Entertainment, which was SECHSKIES' agency at the time, responded to the fans' demands. YG stated that the possibility of Ko Ji-yong's future reunion was low and announced that it would officially request modifications to the group profile registered on portal sites following the fans' request. The controversy at the time expanded beyond the suspension of Ko Ji-yong's group activities to issues regarding the scope of use for the SECHSKIES name and the relationship with former members.

The fact that fan opposition has resurfaced eight years later cannot be viewed simply as a matter of preference regarding a single performance. As the distrust accumulated over the brand and fandom has not been resolved, the news of Ko Ji-yong's return is being perceived by fans as an issue concerning the team's identity and direction. Particularly as the event is conducted under the SECHSKIES name, the fandom continues to raise questions regarding who participates and in what capacity.

On the other hand, this event holds separate significance as a venue to share the stories of former members ahead of the 30th anniversary. While the fact that members who have walked their own paths for a long time are gathering in one place draws interest, expectations for the performance and conflict are growing simultaneously as the fandom's opposition is expressed publicly.

It remains unknown whether Ko Ji-yong's return will lead to the resumption of actual SECHSKIES activities or end as a one-time meeting limited to this performance. However, following the demand to delete his profile eight years ago, this latest statement opposing his joining has turned Ko Ji-yong's stage return into a debate over the fandom and the group's identity rather than a simple reunion of memories. Attention is focused on whether the stage, prepared after a long hiatus, will serve as an opportunity for harmony or a place to reaffirm long-standing conflicts.

Read the original (Korean)