BAEKSEUNG of the group EPEX has launched a YouTube channel alongside fellow group member MU.

On the 27th, a video titled "Starting YouTube" was uploaded to the YouTube channel "Baekseungi and Mu." The video began with BAEKSEUNG and MU rowing a boat in the middle of the sea, followed by a scene where the CG effect disappeared, showing the two rowing against a blue background with the caption, "We're going to strike while the iron is hot." The video drew significant attention, garnering over 4,500 comments in just one day.

There was a specific reason why this video became the center of attention. BAEKSEUNG, a lead rapper of the 5-year-old group EPEX, first began to gain widespread recognition last month on June 28 when an "ECHO" challenge video uploaded to the official EPEX channel went viral.

In the video, BAEKSEUNG filmed the challenge with LEEHAN of BOYNEXTDOOR. Controversy arose as critics pointed out that LEEHAN appeared insincere, lacking energy in his choreography. Reactions followed criticizing the junior member LEEHAN for allegedly failing to show proper respect in front of his senior BAEKSEUNG, a process that cast a renewed spotlight on BAEKSEUNG, a 5-year veteran idol standing at 187cm with striking visuals. Afterward, view counts for BAEKSEUNG's fancam videos began to surge backward in reverse, and the relevant Shorts video is currently recording the highest view count among all videos posted on the official EPEX YouTube channel.

As the controversy grew, BAEKSEUNG reportedly used a fan communication platform to directly ask fans to refrain from mentioning LEEHAN, stating, "I know very well that this doesn't really need to be brought up, and I know for sure he didn't mean any harm by it, so please just focus on me from now on."

Amid these circumstances, when BAEKSEUNG launched his YouTube channel, reactions were divided across online communities and comment sections. One user left a message of support saying, "Keep rowing steadily while the momentum is with you, just like now, and make sure you become a respected senior to all your juniors." On the other hand, numerous critical comments were also posted, such as, "This isn't buying the dip; right now is your absolute peak. You seem awfully excited, mistaking attention gained by comparing yourself to others as something that will last," and "The intention is so blatant that I am speechless. This is a position climbed by putting juniors down."

BAEKSEUNG was born in 2004 and has previously appeared in tvN's Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha and Wavve's Butlers, and is scheduled to appear on tvN's Choeae Employee, which premieres on August 3.

 

(SBS Star News, Reporter Kang Kyung-yoon)