The recent revelation by Soobin of TXT was an eye-opener for the fans. To many, Soobin’s statement exposed the dark side of the K-pop business. On the Weverse livestream Soobin shared that he and his bandmate Taehyun were punished physically for a mistake in their dancing, which led to fury and arguments everywhere.
Soobin’s Revelations of Trainee Life
In a livestream of August 16, 2025, Soobin shared his detailed early days as a middle schooler at Big Hit Entertainment (now HYBE). He and Taehyun were struggling to learn very difficult new choreography for a SEVENTEEN performance without proper guidance.
soobin & taehyun talking about them getting hit as trainees as a form of punishment for not dancing well
🐿️🐱💬wow i was really scared when we were practicing for this
🐰 taehyun said that it was really scary practicing for this song and it was really scary!!!
🐰 this was when… pic.twitter.com/tCcMoyFCnP— 💬 (@translatingTXT) August 16, 2025
“We were just 8th and 10th graders, barely able to stretch our arms,” shared Soobin. Taehyun went on the stream to confirm live and said that they were “hit” for below-average performances, which Soobin said was a common practice for trainees with less skills. This enraged the fans, with one X user saying, “Hitting kids away from their families is a level of evil that makes my blood boil.”
Fan Outrage and Industry Criticism
The revelation started a big uproar online, with fans condemning BIGHIT MUSIC for its past practices. Posts on X highlighted the ages of Soobin (14) and Taehyun (13) at the time of the incidents, further escalating calls for accountability.
still here thinking about how ridiculous it is to ask new trainees with little to no dance experience to learn an advanced choreo by themselves and when they obviously don’t do that well, you smack them around enough for them to be scared.
mind you this is on top of them…
— 𝓇𝑒𝒾 ݁☆݁ ݁⋆ (@almostRei) August 17, 2025
“This is heartbreaking,” said one fan, while others voiced NewJeans allegations of wrongful treatment by HYBE, attaching Soobin’s tale to the ongoing debate about systematics of K-pop training. Some BIGHIT defenders pointed out that the practices ceased with Soobin noting how “They’d get in huge trouble if they hit anyone now.”
A Changed Landscape for Trainees
Soobin and Taehyun have assured that physical punishments will never happen at BIGHIT MUSIC in accordance with present standards obviating what was actually condoned in the past. The livestream, with 3.1 million viewers, showcased Soobin’s brave discussion of past abuses, earning him praise for instigating due dialogue.
Fans wish for more reforms to be sought from his confession to protect future K-pop trainees. While discussions continue, Soobin’s story reflects the spirit of TXT and the need for the industry’s transparency.
Also Read: BTS’ Reunion Weverse Live In LA Generates 4 Million Views, ARMY Calls It ‘Precious OT7’ Moment
