Controversial trainee expelled from JYP, 'ProduceX101'

By Park Jin-hai

Yun Seo-bin

Yun Byung-hui, a JYP trainee who performed under the stage name Yun Seo-bin as a top contestant of Mnet's idol survival show “ProduceX101,” has been expelled from his agency and the show, days after he was accused of having bullied his classmates during high school.

In a statement released on Wednesday, JYP said “We concluded that keeping him doesn't comply with our policy, so decided to nullify the contract with trainee Yun Seo-bin, who is appearing in the music show ProduceX101… Yun is exiting the TV show.”

The 20-year-old, JYP's sole participant on the show, gained attention from viewers after he finished first in the initial audition which aired on Friday.

But he has fallen quickly into disgrace, following allegations that he was a high school bully. Past photos of Yun smoking and drinking in school uniform have surfaced on social media and multiple accusations of bullying and assault have been made by those who claim to have attended school with him. Some fans of the popular TV show called for him to be removed from the show.

Filmed scenes from Mnet's “ProduceX101” will be edited to minimize Yun's appearance.

JYP and Mnet were cautious at first after the allegations surfaced and spread online and said they would investigate the claims. They made a decision to oust the trainee as alleged victims presented photographic evidence online.

Already his profile has been removed from the show's website. Counting Yun and another trainee who dropped out voluntarily, a total of 99 trainees will compete to make the 11 finalists who will debut later as a boy band.