2PM leader in hot water for MySpace remarks

2PM member Jae-beom [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]

2PM member Park Jae-beom is under heat over controversial remarks he made regarding Korea on his MySpace account before his debut.Fans recently discovered comments he made between 2005-2007 to a friend on the social networking website including messages saying: "Korea is gay. I hate Koreans. I wanna come back," leaving fans enraged and disappointed at the leader of the seven-member group.Park and his agency JYP Entertainment both issued an apology on Saturday but some fans are signing petitions calling on the member to be ousted from the group while others are saying his apology should be accepted.Producer Kang Young-sun of an MBC TV show the singer appeared on often, told Asia Economic Daily on Monday that segments containing the singer on one of its pre-recorded TV shows will be omitted and that it is unlikely he will appear on the show in the future."I was born and raised in the States so I knew very little about Korea when I first got here...... My entire family was also in the States..." started Park on the apology he posted up on JYP's official website."I was young and immature back then and having a very rough time in Korea so I made the mistake of blaming everything around me for my problems," the singer went on to say.He ended the statement saying: "Over time I had forgotten I had even wrote those messages. Now I am extremely sorry and embarrassed. I have completely adjusted to my surroundings since then and I am grateful for everything."The seven-member group has been one of the most popular boy bands in Korea since their debut in 2008.Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr, Park Kun-ouc<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr<ⓒ아시아 대표 석간 '아시아경제' (www.newsva.co.kr) 무단전재 배포금지>