MBC every1’s true crime series Hidden Eye has issued a formal apology for erroneously using a childhood photograph of Stray Kids member Hwang Hyun-jin during a segment on a real-life murder case.
The incident occurred in an episode that originally aired on December 8, 2025, focusing on the 2024 Sacheon Christmas Murder Case the tragic stabbing death of a 16-year-old girl. While discussing evidence and photos recovered from the victim’s device, producers accidentally inserted a well-known baby photo of Hyunjin alongside the hosts. Fans quickly spotted the error on social media, leading to an immediate backlash as the image appeared in a highly sensitive context.
The Hidden Eye production team responded promptly, confirming the mistake stemmed from a mix-up while handling multiple images stored on the victim’s phone. “The photo was mistakenly inserted during production,” they stated. They emphasized that it was not intentional and expressed deep regret for any distress caused.
In their official statement, the team said: “We sincerely apologize to Stray Kids’ Hyunjin, his fans, and all viewers for causing concern and confusion. We will take extra precautions to prevent such errors in the future.” They acted swiftly by making the original broadcast and YouTube upload private, and committed to reviewing or removing the content from other platforms.
JYP Entertainment, Hyunjin’s agency, has so far declined to comment publicly on the matter.
This episode highlights the challenges of handling sensitive archival materials in documentary programming, especially when dealing with high-profile public figures whose images are widely circulated online. While production errors can happen, the incident has reignited discussions about stricter verification processes in true crime content to respect both victims’ families and unrelated individuals. Fans continue to voice their disappointment, calling for greater accountability from broadcasters.
The swift response from the Hidden Eye team may help mitigate further damage, but it serves as a reminder of the power of fan communities in holding media outlets responsible in the digital age.
