Lee Jong-hyun leaves CNBlue after sleazy DMs to YouTuber exposed

Many celebrities have learnt the hard way that steamy conversations should be kept out of Instagram direct messages (DMs) but some of them just can't seem to help themselves.

Lee Jong-hyun, guitarist and vocalist of Korean pop-rock band CNBlue, just became the latest star to get in trouble over his DMs.

The scandal-ridden singer, 29, announced his withdrawal from the band on Aug 28 after creepy messages that he had sent to a YouTuber were leaked.

Earlier that day, YouTuber Park Min-jung, who has over 250,000 subscribers, exposed the DMs that Jong-hyun had sent her in a screenshot uploaded onto her Instagram story.

The screenshot, captioned "What? Is this really CNBlue?", showed messages that appeared to be sent from Jong-hyun's now-deleted Instagram account, @cnbluegt.

Jong-hyun wrote: "I really enjoy watching your YouTube videos. Please continue uploading fun videos."

When Min-jung did not respond, he followed up with a second message: "Your belly fat is so cute." 

Because that's going to make a girl fall over herself to respond.

Cringeworthy flirting skills aside, the messages drew criticism in light of Jong-hyun's sex video scandal in March when he admitted to watching sex videos that were secretly filmed and shared by singer Jung Joon-young.

Jong-hyun had even announced a hiatus from showbiz to "reflect on how to be a better person" after the incident.

Min-jung explained her decision to share the DMs in an Instagram post where she wrote: "I first got a DM from CNBlue's Lee Jong-hyun sometime last week. I knew he was taking a hiatus for reflection so I just ignored it. When I got a DM for the second time, I honestly felt disgusted. I worried that he was sending these messages to other women too so I wanted to stop it."

In response to the backlash, CNBlue's management company, FNC Entertainment released a statement on Jong-hyun's behalf confirming his departure from the band:

"Hello. This is Lee Jong-hyun.

"I once again apologise to the people I've hurt through my inappropriate words and actions and to all the people I've disappointed.

"Although it's late, I'm informing you I'm withdrawing from CNBLUE. I feel sorry I've caused harm to the members, and I've also told the members about my withdrawal. I'm ashamed to have disappointed fans who believed in me.

"Since all of us, including myself, are currently serving in the military, it took a while to express my opinion and announce this. I feel apologetic and grateful to our label for waiting.

"I feel great regret over my wrongdoings, and I'm willing to accept criticism from many people. I'm sorry for drawing criticism over a shameful matter."

Fans were not surprised in the slightest, having previously petitioned for Jong-hyun to be cut from the group after his sex video scandal.

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CNBlue was formed in 2009 and released their first Korean album, Bluetory, in 2010.

The remaining three members of the band, Jung Yong-hwa, Lee Jung-shin, and Kang Min-hyuk are currently serving in the Korean military and will be discharged in 2020.

kimberlylim@asiaone.com