“I thought a lot about how I could do things…”
39 minutes ago
SEVENTEEN Dino’s upcoming solo debut as his alter ego Pi Cheolin has already sparked heated reactions, and his latest explanation has only further fueled the debate.
Beloved SEVENTEEN Member’s Solo Debut Faces Backlash Even Before Release
Previously, it was announced that Dino would be releasing his first mini-album, Gilboard, not as Dino, but as Pi Cheolin. Pi Cheolin is a comedic character Dino has portrayed through SEVENTEEN’s self-produced content, known as the fictional head of BOMG with a trot-inspired identity.
| @pledis_17/X
While the character has been beloved in variety content, many fans were disappointed that Dino’s long-awaited first solo album would center around Pi Cheolin rather than Dino himself as a singer and performer. The backlash grew even stronger after a fan-shared clip of Dino discussing the album gained attention online. In the clip, Dino explained that the suggestion to release the album as Pi Cheolin originally came from the company.
피철인으로 나왔으면 좋겠다. 이 앨범 제안을 받은 건 회사한테 받았었어요. 처음엔 저도 ‘어? 피철인? 진짜로’ 제가 6개월 동안 고민했던 것 같아요. 피철인으로 나왔을 때 어떨까 내 모습이? 이런 시뮬레이션을 많이 돌려봐서, 6개월 동안 그게 이어진 것 같은데.
결국엔 그거였던 것 같아요.… pic.twitter.com/NXJUrbsRF9
— 키타 (@alwaysdinofan) May 31, 2026
“I received the suggestion for this album from the company,” Dino said.
Why am I debuting my solo album as Pi Cheolin? Oh, hmm. OK, I think I should address this first. So, I received the suggestion for this album from the company. At first, I also thought, ‘Huh? Pi Cheolin? Really?’ I think I thought about it for six months. I kept running simulations in my head, like, ‘What would I look like if I came out as Pi Cheolin?’ I think that continued for six months.
In the end, I think that was what it came down to. I talked with the company a lot, and through all kinds of conversations… Just like what I said earlier, when I look at myself as a singer in the long run, it’s not like I’m someone who will be a singer for only two or three years and then quit. I mean, more than anything, I think you all know me best. When I looked at it in the long run, I thought it could really broaden the spectrum of who I am as a person. And through a project like this, I thought I could show something completely new.
I thought a lot about how I could do things that other people had not done or could not do. Because of that, I think I made up my mind in a big way and said, ‘Yes, I’ll try taking on this challenge.’ So I think there is also a part of me that is preparing even harder and doing this with an even stronger determination.
— Dino
However, rather than easing fans’ concerns, Dino’s explanation left many even more frustrated with Pledis Entertainment. Many felt the clip confirmed what fans had suspected: that the controversial concept was not something Dino personally initiated, but something the company proposed to him. Several fans were especially upset that Dino said he had considered the idea for six months, interpreting it as a sign that he did not immediately embrace the concept.
- I knew it. Even just looking at Dino’s solo songs or individual work, he usually has a serious vibe or a trendy concept, so suddenly doing Pi Cheolin is…
- Earlier, people in the comments were so confidently saying it must have been Dino’s own opinion. This seriously pisses me off.
- Pledis is SERIOUSLY out of touch.
- Pledis has no idea what they’re doing.
- I knew this would happen when I saw the company cutting things off even when a member said they wanted to do a solo.
- Those comments acting like they knew everything, bringing up his years of experience and willpower while mocking him by saying his own taste was bad, were honestly so hurtful… I hope they get the same thing back in their own fandom.
- I feel so bad for him.
- I’ll pray that everyone who criticized the idol and fans gets it all back as karma…
- Ugh… So that’s what happened. I hate that for him. I heard Dino’s personal taste is more like Michael Jackson-esque, so of course he would spend six months thinking about it.
- HYBE and Pledis seriously have ZERO touch… Ha… I’m sighing.
- Even if I planned this with my feet, it would probably be better than this.
The ongoing fan reactions reflect the main concern fans have had from the beginning: Dino is a 12-year artist and a member of SEVENTEEN, and many hoped his first solo album would highlight his own artistry, performance skills, and musical identity.
Instead, some fans feel his long-awaited solo debut is being built around a comedic persona that has already been heavily attached to him for years.
Watch the “Pi Cheolin” album promotion here:
SEVENTEEN