Jay Park recently opened up about the 2009 controversy that led to his departure from the K-pop group 2PM.
Speaking on the eyesmag YouTube channel on March 5th, the artist reflected on the incident and his journey since then with surprising candor.
Addressing the fallout from his old social media posts—which were famously mistranslated at the time to look like he was insulting Korea—Jay shared that he didn’t feel fear, but rather a deep sense of responsibility. “I didn’t feel anxious; I just felt sorry and apologetic,” he explained.
“I realized I had been rude and caused harm to many people.” He noted that his mindset helped him stay grounded during the crisis: “I’m the type of person who accepts situations as they come and does my best within them, so I wasn’t particularly anxious or afraid.”
The interview also touched on his viral comeback story. After returning to Seattle, a fan sent him a MacBook, which he used to record a cover of B.o.B’s “Nothin’ on You.” The video exploded, racking up 3 million views in a single day and paving his way back into the industry. “Yes. That video became the reason I could start my activities again,” he confirmed.
When asked if he ever considered quitting music due to the intense public scrutiny, Jay emphasized his resilience and personal boundaries. “I don’t let criticism affect me too much. I do things freely, but I always make sure to be respectful and not harm anyone,” he said. He added that he refuses to live by the expectations of others, stating, “I don’t follow others’ opinions or standards. I’ve never let other people’s views control me.”
Jay also took the opportunity to advocate for mental health, urging people to look beyond their public image. “Many people focus too much on their appearance and forget about their inner self. I believe the inner self is more important. If your inner self isn’t right, nothing else matters,” he warned. “If you don’t focus on your inner self, you can be shaken later and develop mental health problems. If you only live for others, you can eventually become sick.”
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