Fan Behind ZEROBASEONE Kim Jiwoong's Controversial Video Call Responds To Analytic Results

Following Dispatch‘s exclusive report on the investigation done on behalf of ZEROBASEONE member Kim Jiwoong regarding the controversial video call that put him in the spotlight…

Dispatch Reveals Analytic Results of ZEROBASEONE Kim Jiwoong’s Controversial Video Call

…the “Original Poster” of the clip, capturing the video call, has re-emerged in response.

평소에도 빠순이와의 영통이 끝나시면 인사를 씨~발이라고하시는 편인가요? 제가 잘 모르겠어서 제로즈님들의 의견이 궁금합니다 #김지웅 #제로즈_트친소 pic.twitter.com/128TqzuRfU

— .. (@81930287a) February 2, 2024

Do you usually say ‘shibal’ (or ‘f*ck’) after talking to fans? I’m not sure so I’m asking for other Zerozes’ thoughts.

— OP

The OP argued that the results are “as vague as the statement from WAKEONE,” claiming once again that their clip was not altered.

pic.twitter.com/3I639kizyB

— .. (@81930287a) February 17, 2024

The OP also criticized the management for diminishing their issue at hand, all the while not apologizing to them throughout the situation, when their initial intention was to receive one and move on.

Stop playing word games with the voice analysis result that doesn’t actually have transparent information. The analysis has no real meaning, so it can be interpreted multiple ways depending on who reads it. And I’m sure that’s what was intended. This way, you can downplay the situation and insist that what was clearly said was not said at all.

In your initial response, you claimed that you double-checked with Kim Jiwoong himself and a staff member who was onsite. Didn’t you? But in the interview, the staff member who was there says they don’t remember the specifics of the call that I had with Kim Jiwoong. If they don’t remember the specifics, like who I was or what I said, then how were you able to double-check the situation with them? It does make sense, though, that neither Kim Jiwoong nor the staff member remembers anything particular about me or the conversation I had. That’s because I’m not some sasaeng. As a regular fan, I didn’t say anything weird. Had I done so, the staff member would have stopped me and remembered me for sure.

At first, you denied to acknowledge what happened to me based on your blind trust in Kim Jiwoong and the staff member’s account. Then, when people didn’t believe you, you went ahead and looked further into the matter. But making it sound like you were doing everyone a favor by going through the whole verification process…? Why so arrogant when everyone can hear the curse word loud and clear?

Also, I noticed that the analytic results suggested that the curse word might be from an external voice. Based on this suggestion, you claimed that the said voice does not belong to Kim Jiwoong. But I don’t understand how the suggestion proves anything. It is literally a suggestion, saying that there is a possibility for the voice to be external. It is not for certain, and so, how does it serve as proof of anything?

I went into the video call with no malicious intention to create a video clip and to alter it with an external recording. I also don’t have that kind of time. When I was on the call, I had a friend (female) with me who was recording me taking the call. I can be heard laughing, and my friend cannot be heard at all because she remained silent throughout the recording. So, then, who could it be? If it’s not the staff member, then are you saying it was said by another member who was there? Do you really think that the public and I are that dumb?

— OP

Bidding farewell to their last remaining bit of affection for the group, the now-former fan hammered down that the full video will not be shared—to protect themself from doxxing.

I also want to know what Kim Jiwoong’s statement is about. What exactly did he endure, hiding behind the management? He didn’t put him through a single word of apologizing or explaining. So what am I supposed to get out of his statement? It’s worded nicely and all, but there’s no meaning to it.

You must have replayed the three-second clip a hundred times. You can absolutely hear the word, ‘shibal.’

Let’s say that, after convincing myself a thousand times over, I end up believing that Kim Jiwoong was not the one who cursed at me. Even so, I felt offended regardless at the end of that call. The call that I spent millions of KRW to get. Shouldn’t you have, at the very least, talked to me first about it being a misunderstanding? Shouldn’t you have tried to work it out with me first? You should not have picked a fight with me, framed me to be some anti-fan, and used the press against me. Had it really been a misunderstanding, you could’ve talked to me about it and I would’ve moved on.

Ever since I got cursed at, I’ve been feeling horrible. I was accused of being a sasaeng, and now I’m accused of being a manipulator. I’m not the one “framing.” I’m being framed by WAKEONE, Kim Jiwoong, and Kim Jiwoong’s fans.

I’m so done with [ZEROBASEONE] that even my last remaining bit of affection for the group is gone. This sucks. How is cornering me and insisting that you’re not at fault “doing your best for a healthy and mature K-Pop culture?” Think again.

And one last thing. I’m never going to share the full video. It’s not because I have anything to hide. But why would I ever reveal my personal information to the public? I’m already getting attacked relentlessly. If you’re so sure that you’re in the clear, you can go ahead and release the full CCTV footage that you have. That footage should equally show what kind of attitude Kim Jiwoong brought to the video call, too.

— OP

Alongside the OP, a lot of Korean fans remain unfazed at the Dispatch-revealed results and the statements from WAKEONE and Kim Jiwoong that followed.

“I feel bad for the OP because it sounds like their feelings were deeply hurt.”
“Even if the curse word was externally recorded, like the analytic results are suggesting, and even if the management thought that it was recorded from the OP’s side of the conversation, WAKEONE should’ve approached this by trying to communicate with the OP first. Instead, WAKEONE chose to wage war on the OP and make it seem like the OP is the villain. Like, I really think how WAKEONE responded throughout the situation is the worst part of it all. IMO, I think WAKEONE is avoiding to resolve it directly with the OP because they know they’re at a disadvantage. I’m sure they would’ve done all that they could to get in touch with the OP if they were 100% sure that it was a misunderstanding only.”
“Reading this makes me hate him even more.”
“I hope the OP gets through this… Thinking about how the OP must feel, it breaks my heart to pieces.”
“WTF… I wish the OP all the best.”
“Power to the OP.”
“Kim Jiwoong’s statement was baffling to me. LOL. Does he not have a brain? So despicable.”
“I’m grateful that the OP seems to be a strong person. It’s a relief. But I know that this whole thing must have been such a heartbreak for them.”
“The OP is going through so much… I wish them the best.”
“This truly sucks… I don’t understand how people can hate on the OP. It’s not like the OP wanted to be cursed out.”
“I’m so done, TBH. Haha. I’m not even their fan, but I feel so betrayed. Like, I feel so stabbed in the back. And he’s honestly turning me off to the whole K-Pop scene and its fandoms. I’m f*cking sick and tired of it all. I feel terrible for the OP, and this whole thing pisses me off so much”

Viral posts about the results, shared via online communities like theqoo, have since gained 62K+ views and 1K+ comments—with most of them still siding with the OP regardless of what WAKEONE, Kim Jiwoong, and/or the Korea Forensic Science Service claimed.