The 2024 KBS Drama Awards, a private ceremony held amidst a national period of mourning, has been overshadowed by renewed controversy surrounding actor Kim Jung Hyun. His acceptance speech, reportedly including an apology, has sparked intense debate online and reignited a long-standing feud with Girls’ Generation’s Seohyun.
A viral X post, garnering over 8 million views, criticizes Kim Jung Hyun’s apology, delivered while Seohyun was hosting the event. The post highlights the perceived insensitivity of the apology’s timing and context, questioning his consideration for Seohyun’s position as host. The user expressed incredulity at the perceived selfishness, stating, “What was Kim Jung Hyun thinking when he apologized to Seohyun, who was hosting, during his own acceptance speech? He didn’t even consider for a second how his bringing up of a personal matter might affect her. Truly impressive, LOL. I have never seen such a late and selfish apology.” This sentiment was echoed by numerous other online comments.
The controversy stems from the 2018 scandal surrounding Kim Jung Hyun’s behavior during the filming of MBC’s *Time*. His ex-girlfriend, actress Seo Ye Ji, was accused of controlling his actions, leading him to refuse intimate scenes and display unprofessional conduct towards co-star Seohyun. While Kim Jung Hyun and his agency initially attributed his behavior to intense method acting, this explanation failed to quell public outrage.
The resurfaced scandal has produced a wave of mixed reactions. Many online commenters remain deeply upset, regardless of the apology’s intended recipient, arguing that placing Seohyun in an uncomfortable situation during her hosting duties was unacceptable. Comments ranged from calls for legal action to demands for Kim Jung Hyun’s permanent removal from the industry. Examples include: “To do something like this to someone as unproblematic and angelic as Seohyun should be punishable by law. Kim Jung Hyun should be cancelled forever,” and “That Korean man now thinking that apologizing in public will be cheered and forgiven.”
This isn’t Kim Jung Hyun’s first attempt at addressing the controversy. A 2021 Instagram apology and subsequent statements, including his claim of having “no memories from 2018” during a 2023 press conference, have only served to further inflame public opinion. The uncertainty surrounding the broadcast date of the pre-recorded awards ceremony adds another layer to the ongoing debate, leaving fans to wonder whether the apology will air and what further impact it may have.