EVAN (former ENHYPEN’s Heeseung) has sparked major reactions after talking to fans about his interaction with a fellow HYBE idol.
EVAN | @h_evva_n/Instagram
Recently, EVAN appeared in a TikTok video with ILLIT member Iroha, dancing to the group’s latest collaboration track, “ICONIC BY MISTAKE,” which was released jointly with KATSEYE and LE SSERAFIM.
IROHA ILLIT and EVAN doing “ICONIC BY MISTAKE” challenge with KATSEYE and LE SSERAFIM! pic.twitter.com/fFLTLfbUKn
— le sserafim pics (@sserapics) June 17, 2026
While the video itself landed EVAN amid a heated debate about his dancing skills, his messages to fans about the whole experience have also become a heated topic on social media. He sent a series of messages to fans, saying that Iroha “sunbaenim” helped him film the video well, adding that they have recorded some more videos together, which will be released later.
“Iroha-sunbaenim” 😭😭😭😭😭🤏🏻 pic.twitter.com/bhTXjcTBNp
— 마르 #RideOrDie (@EVAN01ACE) June 18, 2026
EVAN calling Iroha by the honorific, which is reserved for artists senior to oneself, has attracted mixed reactions online. Some fans were seriously offended by it, feeling it implied that EVAN’s past artistic identity was being wiped out for the sake of a rebrand.
yeah i dont like this https://t.co/XNPoSseUAK
— z (@dakrblood) June 18, 2026
When Yeonjun made his solo debut, he didn’t call any artist ‘sunbaenim’ who made their debut later than TxT, so why does Heeseung has to do this? Why do we need to delete whole 6 year of work… No one deserve this. @BELIFTLAB do your job properly. https://t.co/GvYuKy5htU
— Aika ♬⋆.˚ | ENHYPEN IS 7 (@Aika_s7) June 18, 2026
so… heeseung enhypen was just a dream? https://t.co/78IPpzo5I6
— 𝖒𝖎𝖆 #HEESUNJUNE ❤︎ (@heevanlysun) June 18, 2026
putting his entire pussy to this “rebrand” is so funny to me https://t.co/xE4tlJQdPx
— ✸ (@itaewoIf) June 18, 2026
iroha sunbaenim 😭😭😭😭😭 bang shithyuk i hope youre ready for your funeral https://t.co/M5pNumat7R
— hansy •ू♡ (@awhmyseobie) June 18, 2026
Others countered this reaction by pointing out that EVAN was clearly joking about calling Iroha, who debuted years after ENHYPEN, by the title of “sunbaenim.”
for everybody’s information, he was just joking!! this is something korean celebrities who redebut joke about. it’s a whole bit 😭 https://t.co/GajbaEts0m pic.twitter.com/G5M55uC3bu
— ً (@heeseunger) June 18, 2026
For anyone who doesn’t know, he was literally joking 😭 He even laughed right after that. Y’all take everything way too seriously 😭 OMG, some K-pop stans really don’t know how to have fun anymore 😭 https://t.co/D0fJptiGN9 pic.twitter.com/ZVbUllOe3Z
— N✨ RIDE OR DIE (@evanstarry) June 18, 2026
Fans were also amused by the “concept of Iroha being sunbaenim,” given that the 18-year-old ILLIT maknae was still a fresh face in the industry.
More context:
He was 100% joking, in korean entertainment as a whole, your year of first debut in the industry matter. https://t.co/s0fTOKbVrp pic.twitter.com/ElmXvRhMML
— wan #RideOrDie (@Heemsterwm1015) June 18, 2026
The concept of Iroha being sunbaenim 😭 https://t.co/HrKloy9O7c
— illit gem (@illiesgem) June 18, 2026
this is frying me be srs 😭 https://t.co/a8zNE95FIG
— el (@tanphile) June 18, 2026