Jisung Six-Finger Controversy: SM Reportedly Deletes NCT 2026 Concept Photo Posts After Backlash

SM Entertainment reportedly deleted NCT concept-photo posts from official X and Weibo accounts after criticism over apparent image-editing errors, including an alleged extra finger on Jisung. The posts were tied to NCT 2026, the group’s 10th-anniversary project, and SM Entertainment had not publicly addressed the controversy at the time of Koreaboo’s May 15, 2026 report.¹

The issue centered on promotional images released during the anniversary rollout. Koreaboo reported that fans pointed to what looked like an extra finger on Jisung and a distorted-looking nose on Renjun, prompting discussion around the quality control of official teaser and concept-photo material.¹

Jisung Six-Finger Image Draws Attention

Jisung is one of the members listed in NCT DREAM’s current lineup in Korea JoongAng Daily’s April coverage of NCT 2026, alongside Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin and Chenle.² That context made the reported concerns over both Jisung and Renjun’s images especially visible within the broader NCT 2026 rollout.

The available source material supports only a limited set of confirmed details. The disputed material was described as official concept-photo content, fans criticized apparent visual flaws, and SM Entertainment reportedly removed the posts from official social platforms after the backlash.¹ The reports provided do not confirm whether artificial intelligence tools were used, whether the images were manually edited, or whether the apparent problems came from retouching, compositing, compression, or another production step.

For that reason, the controversy should not be described as confirmed AI use. The phrase “NCT AI teaser” may appear in search interest around the dispute, but the cited reporting does not establish that AI generated the images. A source-led account can only say that the backlash concerned apparent editing errors in official NCT 2026 promotional images.

The reported response from SM Entertainment was also narrow. Koreaboo said the posts were deleted from official X and Weibo accounts, but the agency had not issued a public explanation at the time of that report.¹ Without an official statement, questions about how the images were produced, whether corrected versions will be released, and whether the deletion was directly tied to the criticism remain unanswered in the available record.

The Images Were Part of NCT 2026

The controversy unfolded during a larger anniversary campaign rather than around a standalone image release. SM Entertainment announced NCT 2026 on April 9, 2026, as a 10th-anniversary initiative for NCT. Korea JoongAng Daily reported that the project included a special anniversary logo, the launch of the 2026NCT.com promotional website, and a yearlong roadmap covering albums, tours and anniversary events.²

Soompi reported that NCT released a teaser for NCT 2026 at midnight KST on April 9 to mark the group’s 10th anniversary. The same report said NCT unveiled a new NCT 2026 logo and announced that the 2026NCT.com website would go live at noon KST. The official teaser was titled EVERYTHING, ALL AT ONCE, NEO.³

TenAsia later reported that NCT’s 10th-anniversary project had entered a fuller promotional phase after the April 9 announcement. Its May 14 report said concept photos and promotional content for 21 members had been released sequentially, and described the campaign as one connecting NCT’s current lineup with the group’s 10-year history.⁴

That sequence is central to understanding why the alleged Jisung six-finger image drew scrutiny. The concept photos were part of a multi-member anniversary campaign, not isolated social media content. In a project built around NCT’s decade-long history and current lineup, visual consistency and accuracy became part of the public response to the rollout.

Pop-Up Event Opens During Anniversary Campaign

The deletion report also came as NCT’s anniversary promotions expanded offline. StarNews reported that NCT would hold NCT 10TH ANNIVERSARY [NCT 2026] POP UP : NEO GROUND from May 15 to May 23 at Pie Factory in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. The event was described as a futurism-sports-themed immersive space with member visuals, photo zones, special merchandise and mission-based events.⁵

TenAsia also highlighted the May 15 opening of POP UP : NEO GROUND in Seoul and described the NCT 2026 slogan as EVERYTHING, ALL AT ONCE, NEO.⁴ The timing placed the online image criticism alongside one of the campaign’s scheduled anniversary activities.

The broader campaign remains defined in the available sources as a 10th-anniversary project spanning online promotions, member visuals, the dedicated 2026NCT.com site, and offline anniversary events. The controversy over Jisung’s image is one part of that rollout, but the published reports do not indicate that the overall NCT 2026 schedule has changed because of the deleted posts.

The confirmed record is therefore specific: fans criticized apparent errors in NCT 2026 concept photos, including an alleged extra finger on Jisung, and SM Entertainment reportedly deleted related posts from official X and Weibo accounts. Until SM Entertainment publicly explains the production process or the reason for the deletions, the issue remains a backlash over apparent official-image editing errors, not a confirmed case of AI-generated promotional material.

작성자 소개

Cloi Lee

Author

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