FT Island Takes the Stage at GMF 2024 Amid Controversy
The Grand Mint Festival 2024 (GMF) saw a dramatic performance from the band FT Island, albeit as a duo. On the evening of October 2, at Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, Seoul, only vocalist Lee Hong-ki and bassist Lee Jae-jin graced the stage, as drummer Choi Min-hwan's participation was in doubt due to recent allegations. Opening with a solo performance by Jae-jin, the band quickly transitioned into their first song, "PRAY," with session players filling in for the absent drummer.
The promotional banner for the GMF event, which had showcased a full trio of FT Island featuring Choi Min-hwan, was updated to display only the remaining members as of the concert date. FNC Entertainment had previously confirmed that Choi's absence would be permanent for the festival, assuring fans that the duo would still present a prepared setlist. Additionally, Choi Min-hwan’s absence was marked by his last performance during FT Island's Asia tour stop in Taiwan on September 26.
This situation intensified when details surfaced from Choi Min-hwan's ex-wife, Yul-hee, who shared audio recordings allegedly indicating his visits to illicit establishments on her YouTube channel. The recordings included explicit conversations, raising further scrutiny on Choi Min-hwan’s conduct, leading to a formal complaint being filed regarding charges of sexual assault. Subsequent to these revelations, Choi's past television appearances on shows like KBS2's "Return of Superman" and "The Living Men" were entirely edited out of the streaming services.