This morning Highlight members were wrapped up in controversy, a report by SBS’s “8 O’Clock News” claimed that Yong Junhyung, Jang Hyunseung, Yoon Doo Joon, and Lee Gi Kwang had received scholarships during their four years studying at Dongshin University.
According to the story ran by SBS, the members received a type of class attendance leniency that is only usually reserved for students working in civil service.
The four members had enrolled in the same university in the same year, Yong Junhyung and Jang Hyunseung studied practical music, while Yoon Doojoon and Lee Gikwang studied broadcast entertainment.
The report showed an “X” besides those four names, “X” is reserved usually for students who failed to attend classes. Back then, the members were managed by Cube Entertainment.
After that initial story of SBS aired, Around Us Entertainment issued a detailed statement explaining the members’ side of the story.
Here is the translated statement:
“Hello, this is Around Us Entertainment. We would like to apologize first and foremost to the fans that were taken back by the controversy surrounding former BEAST members Yong Junhyung, Yoon Doo Joon, and Lee Gi Kwang.
As it was reported in the news, it is true that the former BEAST and current Highlight members have attended Dongshin University back in 2010 and have graduated since then. However, the report indicating that there was anything illegal or dishonest about their enrollment process is not true, also its not true that they didn’t participate in school life at all.
Back then the members were busy with their performances, album promotions, and concerts, their agency at the time [Cube Entertainment] decided their schedules.They had followed the schedule given to them back then. And even during the enrolment process, Dongshin University reached out to them at first. All contacts with Dongshin University were managed by their agency.
Through the special recruitment admission process, Yong Junhyung got into the practical music department, while Yoon Doojoon and Lee Gikwang went into broadcast entertainment department with regular admission process.
Back then the university said that they wanted to give BEAST members a special scholarship since having them would play a major role in raising the school’s status.
Of course, compared to other full-time students who devoted themselves to their studies, the members were unable to attend as many classes as them. However, they worked hard as promotional ambassadors for the school, attended classes with other students, took exams, and participated in other events held by the school.
When their schedules wouldn’t allow otherwise, they got permission from the school to take their exams separately. Even so, the members all feel sorry they weren’t able to attend school as faithfully as their colleagues.”
They closed their statement with an apology for fans, students and everyone who was concerned by the news.
