ENHYPEN's Ni-Ki receives backlash for his comment about the March 1st Independence Movement Day

ENHYPEN's Ni-Ki has been at the center of attention in online communities following his recent statement about the March 1st Independence Movement Day in Korea.

On February 29, Ni-Ki interacted with fans on the fan community platform Weverse. One fan commented, "It's March 1st Independence Movement Day, so we have the day off." Ni-Ki responded to the comment, "I'm envious," sparking a debate among Korean netizens.

On this day, Ni-Ki conversed with a fan who revealed, "Korea takes the day off tomorrow," to which Ni-Ki responded with the question, "Is tomorrow a holiday?" The fan then revealed that it was the March 1st Independence Movement Day so everyone gets the day off. In response, Ni-Ki commented, "I'm envious, we don't have holidays or weekends (off)."

The issue stemmed from Ni-Ki's Japanese nationality. The March 1st Independence Movement Day is a national holiday in Korea, commemorating the March 1, 1919, declaration of independence against Japanese rule during the period of Japanese occupation of Korea.

Some Korean netizens expressed disappointment with Ni-Ki's response and wrote, "It makes me angry that a Japanese person is 'envious' about having the day off on the March 1st Independence Movement Day," "If you want to promote in Korea, I think he needs to take some history lessons," "HYBE, you should educate your foreign idols on Korean history," "He should really think before he comments," "If he's not educated at least get some lessons," and "Wow if you're that envious, do you want to be forcibly annexed by another country like us?" Other netizens commented, "He's a foreigner so it's natural he doesn't know," and "He might not understand the significance since he's not Korean."

Meanwhile, ENHYPEN recently hosted their 'Enhypen World Tour 'FATE PLUS' in Seoul' at the Olympic Park Gymnastics Stadium in Songpa-gu, Seoul. The 'FATE PLUS' tour will also continue to take place in the United States, including Anaheim, Oakland, Tacoma, Rosemont, and Belmont Park, from April to May.