SM Entertainment sparked controversy after recent photos emerged of a trainee, also a former Big Hit trainee, Justin J, also known as JJ or JAY JAY . The agency was accused of forcing trainees and idols to alter their appearance through plastic surgery.
Justin J, who previously appeared as a Big Hit Music trainee, is currently part of SM Entertainment’s SMTR25 project. These changes to his appearance have angered fans and sparked a debate about the ethics of the K-pop industry, particularly regarding the pressure placed on trainees to change their appearance.
JAY JAY , also known as JJ, recently appeared at an SM Town event in Los Angeles, where fans noticed distinct changes to his facial features, including a more prominent nasal bridge, a modified chin, and an overall appearance that differed from his previous images as a Big Hit Music trainee. These changes sparked speculation on social media, with some claiming that SM Entertainment forced JJ to undergo plastic surgery to conform to the K-pop industry’s strict beauty standards.
According to posts on the X platform, fan criticism focused on the changes, which reportedly included chin and nose implants, along with heavy makeup to enhance a certain appearance. However, SM has not issued an official statement confirming or denying these accusations.
Knetizens react:
- SM’s surgery on their trainee is unfortunate.
- His face used to be cute and pure, but now he looks like a completely different person.
- Why would they force a Westerner with sharp features to undergo surgery? Their aesthetic sense is amazing. That’s why people are advised to avoid SM’s plastic surgery clinic because it has a bad reputation.
- Who is this?
- His nose was already perfect… Shouldn’t a doctor refuse even if someone came begging for money? That’s too much.
- Why did they force him?
- What should I do… If I were this friend’s father, my heart would break.
This isn’t the first time SM has been accused of such practices, citing a previous case involving Super Junior member Kyuhyun, who claimed in 2023 that the agency forced him to undergo plastic surgery.
