Dingo Music is facing growing controversy for using a photo of former member Yong Junhyung in a concert opening video that included the group Highlight.
On Oct. 18 at Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium in Seoul during the "2025 Dingo Music Concert–Killing Voice" stage, Highlight appeared in the opening video introducing the performer lineup, but the issue was the four-person group photo in that scene. Instead of the current leader Yoon Dujun, a past photo including Yong Junhyung, who left the team in 2019, was shown.
Fans expressed anger, saying, "Why is a member who left six years ago appearing in the video?" and "Did they not do even this basic check for an official event?" On online communities and social media, responses followed, saying, "You can tell the current member composition just from the photos posted on Highlight's official account, so how can they make a mistake like this?"
As the controversy grew, Dingo Music posted an official apology the same day. It said, "There was an error in the opening video production process that exposed an image including a member who had already left the team," and added, "This was clearly a production staff mistake, and we deeply apologize for broadcasting it without undergoing prior review procedures."
They also said, "We sincerely apologize for causing deep hurt and discomfort to Highlight members, the agency and fans," and added, "We take this matter very seriously and will strengthen artist-related material review and approval procedures going forward."
Highlight originally debuted as Beast (BEAST) and produced numerous hit songs. However, in 2019 Yong Junhyung was implicated in the Jung Joon-young illegal filming case and left Highlight; the group then reorganized as a four-member unit of Yoon Dujun, Yang Yoseob, Lee Gikwang and Son Dongwoon and continued activities steadily.
For fans, Dingo's mistake was not just a simple "editing error" but an incident that reopened past wounds. As comments saying, "Highlight is four members," poured in from fans, Dingo Music's careless mistake left a bitter aftertaste for both the artists and fans.
[Photo] OSEN DB
[OSEN]