The K-pop world is buzzing again — and this time, it’s ENHYPEN fans who’ve had enough. On February 27, 2026, international fans (ENGENEs) escalated their ongoing campaign by dispatching protest trucks to HYBE Labels’ headquarters in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, demanding equal treatment for NI-KI, the group’s only Japanese member. And honestly? The receipts they’re bringing are hard to dismiss.
Table of Contents
NI-KI’s Alleged Mistreatment — A Timeline of Incidents
| Date | Incident | Platform/Event |
|---|---|---|
| August 2025 | Cut from InStyle interview reaction video; name misspelled in tags | Media Content |
| August 2025 | Revealed he hasn’t been home to Japan since before debut | Weverse Live |
| January 2026 | Hid behind a pillar at Incheon Airport amid China-Japan tensions | Airport Departure |
| January 2026 | Sidelined at Hong Kong fan sign; interrupted while speaking | Fan Event |
| February 2026 | Completely absent from Jungwon’s year-long vlog | Official Group Content |
| February 2026 | Protest trucks sent to HYBE headquarters by international ENGENEs | Fan Protest |
What the Protest Trucks Said
The message displayed on the trucks was blunt and emotional:
“NO MORE SILENCE. FAIRNESS FOR NI-KI NOW. Equal treatment. Equal opportunity. Equal participation. International ENGENEs demand fair treatment and equal opportunity for NI-KI. He is an essential part of ENHYPEN. Stop the exclusion. Ensure full participation in all official activities now. Give NI-KI, the only main dancer of ENHYPEN, his deserved center parts, solo dance breaks, and more opportunities to showcase his dance skills.”
This wasn’t a spontaneous reaction to a single bad incident — it was the culmination of months of documented concerns.
The Airport Incident That Broke the Fandom
The moment that hit hardest came in late January 2026. ENHYPEN were departing from Incheon International Airport to Shanghai, but NI-KI was already known to be unable to participate in the Shanghai event due to visa issues stemming from worsening political tensions between China and Japan, which have prevented some Japanese nationals from receiving work visas for activities in China.
Despite showing up to the airport, NI-KI was seen standing behind a pillar while the other members posed openly for reporters and cameras — remaining there long enough that even reporters on-site were visibly confused, with one asking “Why is he hiding?”
The image of one of K-pop’s most celebrated dancers hiding behind a pillar because of his nationality cut through the internet fast. Fans were further outraged when NI-KI didn’t appear in a single frame of ENHYPEN leader Jungwon’s year-long personal vlog released in February 2026 — and they noted he was also absent from a previous Europe tour vlog. wallofsoundau
The Deeper Pattern: Years of Feeling Unseen
Fans had already catalogued other incidents from 2025 alone — alleged exclusion from Instagram interviews, group photos in Naver and Billboard articles, and a Cadbury ad campaign. They also highlighted that despite contributing to choreography for multiple ENHYPEN tracks, he was only officially credited once.
Most heartbreakingly, NI-KI revealed during a Weverse live in August 2025 that he hadn’t been able to return to his family home in Japan since before debuting on I-Land — meaning it had been five to six years. His father responded publicly with a photo of NI-KI’s dog to let him know his room was still waiting.
Neither HYBE nor BELIFT LAB has issued any official response to fan demands. For more K-pop and entertainment updates, visit Technosports and follow our latest K-pop and idol news.
FAQs
Q: Why are ENHYPEN fans sending protest trucks to HYBE over NI-KI?
Fans are demanding equal treatment after a series of alleged incidents where NI-KI was excluded from official content, sidelined at events, and denied opportunities compared to his fellow ENHYPEN members.
Q: Has BELIFT LAB responded to the NI-KI protest trucks?
As of now, neither BELIFT LAB nor HYBE has issued any official statement or response to fans’ demands, which has only further intensified backlash across social media platforms.
