Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Kim Geonwoo of ALPHA DRIVE ONE has been called K-pop's most hated idol of 2026 — from Boys II Planet favoritism accusations to the hot mic scandal behind his sudden hiatus. In this video, we break down the full timeline of the ALD1 controversy: the WakeOne trainee reveal that sparked rigging allegations during Boys II Planet, the pre-debut mistreatment claims and his first apology, the viral post from a mother alleging her daughter — an MBC floor director — was verbally harassed by a rookie idol, and the industry insiders who reportedly came forward with accounts of their own, including the alleged Idol 1N2D hot mic moment that staff say the entire set heard.
We also cover WakeOne's official April 8 statement, which apologized for the hot mic remarks while stating that the other circulating rumors were found to be untrue, plus Geonwoo's handwritten apology and his indefinite hiatus while ALPHA DRIVE ONE promotes as seven. And now sasaeng accounts are claiming Geonwoo has a flight to Los Angeles on August 8 — just days before ALD1's confirmed KCON LA 2026 stage on August 16 — leaving fans divided over whether a quiet return is already in motion ahead of the group's second mini album.
Is a comeback possible, or is the damage already done? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
Subscribe to Kookielit for K-pop news, scandal breakdowns, and industry deep dives — we do it kinder here. 🔔
#kpop #kpopnews #KOOKIELIT
Kim Geonwoo of ALPHA DRIVE ONE has been called K-pop's most hated idol of 2026 — from Boys II Planet favoritism accusations to the hot mic scandal behind his sudden hiatus. In this video, we break down the full timeline of the ALD1 controversy: the WakeOne trainee reveal that sparked rigging allegations during Boys II Planet, the pre-debut mistreatment claims and his first apology, the viral post from a mother alleging her daughter — an MBC floor director — was verbally harassed by a rookie idol, and the industry insiders who reportedly came forward with accounts of their own, including the alleged Idol 1N2D hot mic moment that staff say the entire set heard.
We also cover WakeOne's official April 8 statement, which apologized for the hot mic remarks while stating that the other circulating rumors were found to be untrue, plus Geonwoo's handwritten apology and his indefinite hiatus while ALPHA DRIVE ONE promotes as seven. And now sasaeng accounts are claiming Geonwoo has a flight to Los Angeles on August 8 — just days before ALD1's confirmed KCON LA 2026 stage on August 16 — leaving fans divided over whether a quiet return is already in motion ahead of the group's second mini album.
Is a comeback possible, or is the damage already done? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
Subscribe to Kookielit for K-pop news, scandal breakdowns, and industry deep dives — we do it kinder here. 🔔
#kpop #kpopnews #KOOKIELIT
