SHINee’s Minho Personally Apologizes For Recent Controversy At Marathon Event

Minho, a member of the popular K-pop group SHINee, has publicly addressed a controversy that arose after his participation in the 2026 JTBC Seoul Marathon. The event, held on November 1, saw Minho completing the marathon in an impressive time of 3 hours and 18 seconds, just shy of the coveted sub-3-hour mark.

However, a video surfaced the following day, showing what appeared to be a pacemaker assisting him during the race. This led to public outcry and questions regarding the fairness of his performance. In response to the growing concerns, Minho took to social media on November 3 to express his regret and disappointment over the situation.

In his post, he stated, "I apologize for disappointing so many people at the marathon I took part in on November 1." He emphasized that the incident was due to his own shortcomings and expressed deep shame as a sports enthusiast. Minho pledged to ensure that such an incident does not happen again and expressed respect for all athletes who train hard.

This incident has sparked discussions about the integrity of competitive sports and the implications of external assistance. While Minho's time was commendable, the controversy has overshadowed his achievement, highlighting the importance of fairness in athletic competitions.