“Future Gems…” Hong Seok Cheon’s Comments About Underage CORTIS Triggers Concern

Popular gay TV personality Hong Seok Cheon is receiving mixed reactions for his recent social media post concerning BIG HIT Music‘s new boy group, CORTIS.

“Hong Seok Cheon’s Jewel Box” is a show where he talks with handsome male celebrities, or as he calls them, his “jewels.” However, his latest post is raising eyebrows.

On his Instagram story, he posted photos of the CORTIS members with the caption “Future jewels.”

The members of CORTIS are born between the years 2005 and 2009, making them 16 to 20 years old.

As some of the members are underage, netizens found the post inappropriate to include minors in a show where the premise is to invite “hot” guests.

• “Gross… why is that old man acting like that?”
• “Maybe it’s because one of them looks like Cha Eunwoo, haha.”
• “Didn’t they just barely become legal? It’s uncomfortable seeing someone whose usual concept is being flirty with men act like that toward kids who are way too young. Even if it’s a joke, I wish that kind of atmosphere wouldn’t be created, especially with cases like Japan’s Johnny’s scandal.”
• “Hong Seok Cheon is honestly a bit much… he’s got an obsession problem.”
• “Looks like BIG HIT must’ve paid him ad money.”
• “This totally feels like forced viral marketing, lol.”