2NE1's Sandara Park Faces Controversy Over Underage Dating Remarks

Sandara Park (산다라박) of 2NE1 has found herself at the center of a controversy regarding underage dating. In a travel vlog released last May, she shared an experience from a trip to the Philippines with fellow member Gong Minzy (공민지). In the video, Sandara recounted an encounter with a young man who approached her for her number, which she gave after finding him cute, only to discover he was 14 years old at the time. Sandara was 19 and on the verge of her debut.

She admitted to lying about her age, claiming to be 16, and mentioned they went on several dates, playing games and watching movies together. However, after her debut, her real age was revealed, and she stopped contacting him.

While Gong Minzy laughed off the situation, saying the boy was deceived, the online community reacted harshly. Many netizens expressed disbelief that Sandara could joke about the incident, with comments highlighting the inappropriateness of dating a minor and the significant age difference.

In response to the backlash, Sandara's team opted for legal action rather than an apology. They removed the controversial segment from the video and re-uploaded it, stating that certain parts could be misinterpreted due to cultural differences. They urged the public to refrain from spreading unfounded speculation and malicious comments, warning that they would take legal measures against any defamation.