YOUNITE’s Eunho sexually harassed during Brazil concert tour
Younite's Eunho / Xportsnews
Eunho, a member of the K-pop group YOUNITE, was sexually harassed by a fan during the group’s overseas schedule in Brazil, sparking outrage among domestic and international fans.
According to the group’s agency and videos shared online, the incident occurred on Aug. 17 (local time) after YOUNITE performed at the 18th Korea Culture Day festival in Sao Paulo. While Eunho was leaving the venue, a woman suddenly grabbed his face and kissed him on the cheek. The act happened so abruptly that security personnel failed to intervene, and Eunho, visibly shocked, quickly pushed the woman away.
Videos taken by fans captured the startled reactions of Eunho and his fellow members. The footage spread rapidly on X, formerly Twitter, and other online communities, fueling anger over the lack of artist protection.
Fans expressed frustration, saying, “Please protect our artist. Incidents like this cannot happen again,” “This is clear sexual harassment and should be reported,” “Thinking about how shocked Eunho must have been breaks my heart,” and “I’m worried this could leave lasting trauma.”
The Korea Culture Day organizers issued an official statement condemning the incident. “The unauthorized physical contact by a fan during the 18th Korea Culture Day event constitutes clear sexual harassment. We express our deep regret and strongly denounce the act,” it said. The organizers added that “all forms of sexual harassment are unacceptable” and pledged to foster “a respectful and safe environment” for artists, fans and event staff.
Younite / Courtesy of Brand New Music
YOUNITE’s agency, Brand New Music, also addressed the matter through social media: “An incident occurred during a recent performance where excessive approaches by some fans posed safety threats to the artist. Such behavior also endangers the safety of fans at the venue.” The agency urged fans to “maintain a safe distance during schedules” and vowed to prioritize Eunho’s safety going forward.
Eunho later reassured fans through a fan communication platform, saying, “I avoided it thanks to my incredible reflexes,” in an attempt to calm growing concerns.
Meanwhile, YOUNITE kicked off its Brazil tour in Sao Paulo on Aug. 16 and is scheduled to perform in six more cities: Curitiba, Piracicaba, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Goiania and Brasilia.
This article from Xportsnews is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.