Rising Actor Jung Joon Won Faces Backlash Over “Attitude Controversy” Following Recent Variety Show Appearance
Actor Jung Joon Won is facing backlash after a recent variety show appearance sparked a so-called “attitude controversy,” reigniting criticism from an old controversy over his appearance as well.
Jung Joon Won found himself at the center of the controversy after appearing on the August 1 broadcast of MBC’s variety show “Hangout with Yoo,” where he appeared to struggle to adjust to the show’s comedic atmosphere throughout the episode.
Online reactions were split, with some criticizing him for “lacking sincerity,” while others countered that “he was simply nervous because of his introverted personality.” Amid the debate, an older “appearance controversy” resurfaced as well.
Last year, Jung Joon Won gained wide recognition for his role as Koo Do Won in tvN’s “Resident Playbook,” but some viewers reacted negatively to his visual pairing with co-star Go Youn Jung at the time, sparking the original “appearance controversy.”
Jung Joon Won had since moved past that criticism by proving himself through solid acting performances, but this new “attitude controversy” has once again put him in the spotlight.
Amid the backlash, praise from the original webtoon author behind his current drama has resurfaced online, offering a very different perspective on the actor.
On July 31, following the premiere of MBC’s Friday-Saturday drama “A Bonafide Killer,” webtoon author YOON — who wrote the original webtoon the drama is based on — posted a lengthy review on their account. YOON watched the first episode alongside co-writer Geomdung and other fellow webtoon artists, then shared their reaction.
YOON wrote, “I got to read the script beforehand, but seeing it actually turned into a live-action production made it so much more enjoyable than just reading it on the page,” expressing satisfaction with the adaptation.
YOON also praised the cast’s acting, writing, “There isn’t a single weak link, even down to the supporting and child actors. Kim Won Hae’s cameo performance was also chilling in the best way.”
In particular, YOON singled out lead actors Gong Hyo Jin and Jung Joon Won for high praise.
Of Gong Hyo Jin, YOON wrote, “I think her greatest strength is how naturally she delivers even the most unrealistic lines, as if she’s really saying them in real life — and that strength was maximized here, carrying the drama so comfortably. The action scenes, drawn with her signature presence, were incredible too. She was just a mesmerizing Yubona [her character].”
On Jung Joon Won, YOON continued, “He’s such a great actor that he fit perfectly into the role of Tae Seong. Honestly, from the moment I read the script, I could already hear his voice in the lines and thought he’d suit the role well — but he pulled it off even better than I imagined. It confirmed once again that he really is one of the best actors out there.”
YOON added, “His gentle image suits Tae Seong so well — a family man and a doting dad through and through,” expressing satisfaction with the casting as a perfect match for the character.
YOON also praised supporting cast members Sung Dong Il, Moo Jin Sung, and Cha Mi Kyung, along with the production’s direction, writing, “Condensing this into 14 episodes must have been such a difficult task, but they pulled it off beautifully, and I’m so happy about it.”
Source: (A)
