SEVENTEEN‘s The8 has been criticized for his recent comments during a show, but netizens have defended the idol.

SEVENTEEN recently finished the final two shows of their tour with performances in Bangkok.
[17’S] 세븐틴 캐럿
17 RIGHT HERE
길고 긴 여정을 함께해준 캐럿들 너무 고마워요
앞으로도 더 많은 동그라미를 그려나가요🩷🩵#SEVENTEEN #세븐틴#SVT_RIGHT_HERE_WORLDTOUR#SVT_RIGHT_HERE_IN_BANGKOK pic.twitter.com/n0daVBwTDr
— 세븐틴(SEVENTEEN) (@pledis_17) February 16, 2025
During the concert, when the members were giving their closing comments, The8 gave some comments in Chinese, and it drew backlash on social media.
No hate to him but this is so disrespectful to Thai fans and the KOREAN-Thai interpeter who was there. I don’t know why some of you guys didn’t see it as a problem when it wasn’t professional at all
Sure he got the full right to speak his mother tongue, but it’s not here? https://t.co/OIJOAuhmSA
—
𝘼𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙥𝙞𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙤𝙛𝘽𝘼𝙋
(@Alittle81120732) February 16, 2025
ทำไมจะนอยไม่ได้คะ ภาษาไทยไม่พูดสักคำ อะไรที่เกี่ยวกับไทยไม่มีสักอย่างในเม้น ประเทศอื่นคนจีนก็ไปทำไมต้องพูดที่ไทยอะ อะไรที่มันไม่สมควรก็คือไม่สมควรป่าว เราคือผู้บริโภคที่โดนเอาเปรียบและไม่ให้เกียรติอยู่ด้วยซ้ำ ทำไมจะนอยไม่ได้ถามหน่อยคับ
#SVT_RIGHT_HERE_IN_BANGKOK pic.twitter.com/GKsqvoedpO
— ًً (@fkmimimimi) February 16, 2025
It’s not wrong for him to speak his native language, but this is Thailand. This is so disrespectful to Thai fans and the KOREAN-Thai interpeter who was there. I don’t know why some of you guys didn’t see it as a problem when it wasn’t professional at all https://t.co/OwdbXsaHa8
— PaN (@kanpool_pan) February 17, 2025
I dont know him but if u not thai fans u should stfu about sinophobia here bcs theyre not. Its an issue that a lot of artist think they come to thailand to meet c-fans (since they cant hold concert in china) so they always speak chinese here and its kind of rude to thai fans. https://t.co/bMVOsYGfrj
— popochiii
(@00tndnluV) February 17, 2025
The fact that he ONLY speaks Chinese in Bangkok is bc he knew that 70% of the stadium are Chinese, so he was expecting to speak Chinese in Thailand. And NO, he never spit a single Thai Phrase in Thailand, but decided to speak Chinese and that’s what’s it hurts #justiceforthaifans
— 𝑁𝑎𝑟𝑎 𝑏𝑖𝑏𝑖𝑖
(@wednesdaymuch) February 16, 2025
Netizens quickly defended The8, sharing that he also made his closing comments in Korean and that during many shows, the idol has spoken in Chinese. Others added that it didn’t seem to be an issue when the SEVENTEEN members spoke in Korean but that the hate was only aimed at The8.
3k rts hating on minghao for speaking chinese i hate this fandom so much pic.twitter.com/fBN4mCnE41
— jess
(@88taIes) February 17, 2025
full video where you can see minghao speaking in Korean and it being translated in thai.He often speaks in chinese too after Korean in many stops which includes America during his birthday, In korea itself in Singapore. He was not being disrespectful
pic.twitter.com/ROTgxqKkB5 https://t.co/vFGi6FtL1D
— House of Xu (@XuHousePali) February 16, 2025
first of all , korean members spoke in korean language ( their mother tongue) too, and the8 spoke in korean first and then chinese to express his gratitude with both languages he can !!! I AM NOT SEEING ANYTHING WRONG WITH THIS and he often speaks in chinese during concert, and… https://t.co/4HY3uYdEdY
— 헬렌 (@wonwooholic717) February 17, 2025
Why you just cut down the part that he speaks Korea? Pls tell me the reason that why could Korean speak Korean but Chinese cannot speak Chinese in Thai? Are you racist?!! https://t.co/4oqm1uMbQq
—
(@niujiayi1998) February 16, 2025
Q. Why did Minghao speak in Chinese in Thailand?
– Minghao, as a Chinese member, often expresses himself in Chinese because it’s his native language. It’s common for him to do this during ending ments.Q. Does he only speak Chinese in Thailand?
– No, he has also spoken in… pic.twitter.com/c2vy684jVG— 디 ૮₍ ˃⤙˂ ₎ა (@kook_u_u) February 17, 2025
One fan shared that many were negative toward The8’s speech because of the alleged behavior of some of the Chinese fans, but many added that it was unfair that the SEVENTEEN member was receiving hate for this.
One of my thai friend explained the sentiment about hao’s Chinese comment. Though it’s understandable because it happened to jakarta ticketing too, but still hating on hao is a bit… let’s live with positivity and be respectful
pic.twitter.com/phwg4FJAo0
— Lita
(@haoppyland) February 17, 2025
maybe direct your anger to the organizer who fucked up and the rude c-carats instead of lowkey blaming minghao for speaking in mandarin
kpop fans are dumb as hell
—
(@horanghazed) February 17, 2025
You’re already putting the BLAME ON HIM by assuming that more cfans are coming because of him and that their behavior is his responsibility.
And by thai fans’ logic, I want to ask you not to comment on my page in thai. I speak english here, so please also speak in english. It’s… https://t.co/lJUJU1z5b7
—
ForTHE8 (@pastelmoonsky8) February 17, 2025
I’m sorry for saying this but I don’t think those thai fans are intelligent enough to understand this simple thing that the criticism should directed at chinese fans if they have problem with chinese fans …not The8
— JEONGHAN’S ” BETTER HALF”
(@RATs_notAllowed) February 17, 2025
we get it, you’re upset with c-carats. trust me, WE GET IT. but this NOT how you deal with it. why are you taking your frustration out on
? not hiding your posts and even utilizing tags which makes it so much easier for the members to see y’all act like ungrateful little brats. pic.twitter.com/7WZsAUjpbe
— airi. (@carrotsshii) February 16, 2025