When Shinhwa takes the stage on March 22 for the first of two days of concerts commemorating the group's 16 years in the recording industry, they will be short one member.
Andy Lee, who suspended all professional activities back in November after reportedly being named in an illegal gambling probe along with five other South Korean celebrities, will not be appearing with the group at Shinhwa's two 16th anniversary shows.
Like Us on Facebook
Yet according to a statement released Friday by Shinhwa Company, the corporation that handles all of the group's official activities, Andy's absence from the shows should not be read into as having any greater meaning.
"Due to the series of unfortunate events, only five members, minus Andy, will be at the 16th anniversary concert," the statement read.
"But that doesn't mean the members of Shinhwa will change."
The group added that they are playing the 16th anniversary show because of "a promise made to the fans."
"We want to sincerely thank the fans for sending so much love to Shinhwa in the past 16 years and we promise to work harder and show more charismatic sides during the 16th anniversary concert," the band added, according to eNEWS.
And although the group still doesn't have a name or a release date to their follow-up album to last year's "The Classic," the group's statement appeared to imply that they would play some songs that would be included on it.
"Although, we haven't decided on the date of release for our 12th album, we will showcase an album that will not disappoint fans," the statement read.
According to published reports, the South Korean prosecutor is charging that Andy, whose real name is Lee Sun Ho, spent over $9,000 on an illegal online service that placed bets on soccer matches overseas.
"I will be suspending all of my activities and reflecting on my actions," Andy told the Korea Star Daily back in November, when word of his involvement in the illegal gambling ring first broke.
Singer Tony An of the 1990s K-pop boy band H.O.T. and comedian Lee Su Guen are allegedly accused of betting more than $350,000 in the illegal soccer gambling ring.
Tak Jae Hoon is reportedly charged with betting $250,000.
Rapper Boom (real name Lee Min Ho) and actor Yang Se Hyung are allegedly charged with also spending roughly $9,000-a-piece in the illegal soccer gambling ring.
As of yet, no details have been provided by Andy's management company T.O.P. Media or Shinhwa Company about when he will return to the stage.
"We deeply apologize for worrying all the fans who love Andy through this shameful event," read a T.O.P. Media statement from November.
"Andy will be halting all official activities and will be thinking about his actions for the time being. We have already informed the staff of the programs he's currently active on. We want to apologize once more for worrying all the people who have sent their love and will do our best to make sure this does not happen again."
Source : kpopstarz[dot]com
No comments:
Post a Comment