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A significant discussion has emerged around RIIZE member Eunseok's use of the term "깜둥이" (kkam-dung-i) on the fan communication platform Bubble. This incident, stemming from a childhood photo shared by Eunseok, quickly escalated into a controversy, primarily due to varying interpretations of the term across different cultural contexts.
On May 5th, Eunseok posted a childhood picture on Bubble, captioning it "깜둥이 은석." The term "깜둥이" was widely perceived by international fans as a derogatory racial slur, comparable to "nigger." Although Eunseok promptly deleted the post and issued an apology on Bubble the following day, May 6th, screenshots had already circulated online. Domestic fans, however, offered a different perspective, suggesting it was a playful self-reference to tanned skin, noting the word's etymological root in the Korean word for "black" or "dark."
Local bloggers highlighted the stark contrast in how the term was received by international versus domestic audiences, indicating the complexities of cross-cultural communication for global idols. Even after the apology, online debates continued, reflecting the persistent divide in understanding. Beyond the controversy, other blog content shows Eunseok's regular use of Bubble for sharing personal anecdotes, such as his
