Famous Korean TV Personality Issues Handwritten Apology For Wearing Red At The Height Of The South Korean Elections
TV personality and entrepreneur Hong Jin Kyung has publicly apologized after wearing a red outfit sparked unexpected political controversy.
On June 2, Hong Jin Kyung posted several photos of herself on Instagram wearing a red knit top. However, some online users speculated that the color choice implied political support for a specific party—an especially sensitive topic during election season in South Korea. This led to her becoming embroiled in what has now been dubbed a “political color controversy.”
Hong Jin Kyung wasn’t the only celebrity caught up in this. Others including aespa’s Karina, rapper Beenzino, and actress Jung Ga Eun also faced similar misunderstandings due to posting images containing red elements during the election period.
In response, on May 3, Hong Jin Kyung issued a handwritten apology letter. She began by saying, “I am currently overseas on a business trip, and due to the time difference, I only just saw what was happening online. I sincerely apologize for the delay in addressing this.”
She continued, “When I woke up this morning, I had received an overwhelming number of phone calls. In the past, I often felt disappointed when celebrities made missteps during election periods, but now I’ve become the one to make a foolish mistake during such a sensitive time. I’m truly at a loss for words.”
Explaining the outfit in question, she said, “The photos I uploaded were taken two days ago at a store in Stockholm. I posted them because I found the design interesting, and I failed to consider the color of the top I was wearing at the time.”
She added, “I’ve been overseas for quite a while and lost touch with the current atmosphere in Korea, which caused me to let my guard down. Regardless of the reason, it was entirely my fault. I have nothing to say in my defense. I sincerely apologize for any confusion or discomfort I caused during this sensitive time.”
While some may have found the controversy unfair, Hong Jin Kyung’s sincere and humble apology has garnered praise from many online, with some calling it a model example of how public figures should handle misunderstandings.
Do you think she needed to post a handwritten apology letter?
Source: (A)
