Park Jae-beom, who had said “I would join LONGSHOT,” ultimately clarifies: “It was a joke”

Park Jae-beom. Yonhap News

Singer Park Jae-beom has spoken out directly about rumors that he would join the boy group LONGSHOT, which he created.

On the 12th, Park shared a video of an online magazine interview on his social media, writing, “It is obvious I said it as a joke to the haters, but I cannot believe this became an actual article.”

The remark came amid concerns raised by some fans about LONGSHOT’s recent activities. Earlier, LONGSHOT promoted its second mixtape, ‘4SHOBOIZ Vol. 2: 4SHOVILLE,’ made together with Park. However, some argued that Park’s presence stood out on music show stages, where he took the center and the ending, which meant the rookie group LONGSHOT received relatively less focus. In addition, news that he would take part in LONGSHOT’s world tour scheduled for this September prompted reactions such as, “Is he not turning the members into mere extras?”

In response, in an interview on the 11th Park said, “In the next project, I will join LONGSHOT as an official member. That has always been my ultimate goal, and no one can stop me,” and added, “I am the one who founded the company in the first place and created this group.”

He continued, “I have worked in this music ecosystem for a full 20 years. All the speculation and narratives that netizens spin online have no meaning in the real world. Just enjoy our music and the pure journey of the boys. If that is not to your liking, then simply watch from the sidelines.”

However, as those remarks were turned into articles and spread into actual rumors about his joining, Park drew a line, calling it “a joke,” and moved to calm the situation.