ENHYPEN member Jungwon addressed fan concerns in a live stream after wearing a Borat t-shirt in a July 18 TikTok video. He stated that he discarded the shirt upon learning its implications and timed the stream for Kazakh fans.
The video, which has since been deleted, featured Jungwon performing a dance challenge created by a Kazakh choreographer. The shirt depicted Sacha Baron Cohen as Borat, a character from the film Borat! Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, which has drawn criticism for promoting stereotypes about Kazakhstan.
Jungwon issued a direct apology, confirming he threw the shirt away immediately after understanding the issue. Fans noted his effort to consider time zones in Kazakhstan before going live.
Reactions included comparisons to former NCT member Mark Lee, who faced backlash for wearing a Confederate flag shirt after leaving the group. Some fans argued Jungwon's approach showed more accountability than Mark's earlier statement, while others defended Mark's response as sufficient.