Shinji tearful over fiance controversy: ‘I’m scared it might hurt Koyote’

Shinji of Koyote appears on “You Quiz on the Block.” / Captured from tvN

Shinji of the long-running co-ed group Koyote has opened up about the recent controversy surrounding her fiance Moon Won, expressing fears that it could negatively affect the group and sharing her gratitude to fellow members for their support.

Appearing on the July 16 episode of tvN’s variety show "You Quiz on the Block," Shinji joined Koyote bandmates Kim Jong-min and Bbaek Ga to talk about their 27-year career together.

Shinji recently faced public backlash over various allegations involving her fiance. Reflecting on her upcoming marriage, Shinji said, “It must have been upsetting for the others, because the story took a negative turn. For me, Koyote is family. Koyote is Shinji, and Shinji is Koyote. We’re naturally connected now.”

She grew emotional and paused for a moment before continuing, “I’ve been reading all the comments and reactions. What scares and hurts me most is hearing, ‘Because of you, Koyote is over,’ or ‘You ruined everything.’”

She added, “We’re solid, but I worry that the others might get swept up in hate because of me.” She recalled Kim Jong-min’s reassuring words: “He told me, ‘We started with nothing. You’ve got us,’ and that really gave me strength.”

Kim expressed his own support, saying, “Since she was young, Shinji has had to protect Koyote. It must have been hard to accept things happening outside. I hope she can start thinking more about her own happiness now.”

Bbaek Ga shared an emotional moment of his own. “My phone wallpaper is a photo of Koyote,” he said. “One day, I was taking a shower while listening to Lee Seung-hwan’s song ‘Family,’ and I felt like crying. Memories from over 20 years with Koyote just flashed by. That’s when I realized how much I care about the group, and about Shinji. It was something I didn’t even realize myself.”

After Shinji announced her plans to marry Moon, the next year, a series of allegations about his private life surfaced online. Moon admitted and apologized for one of the claims — that he had engaged in real estate dealings in partnership with an agency despite not having a licensed realtor certification.

However, he denied all other accusations, including school bullying, hazing during military service and being unfaithful in a previous relationship before his first marriage.

This article is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.