The cultural critic has Jae-Geun recently faced the problem of the most rigorous standards for young female celebrities, using the case of SEO YE-JI and Kim Jung-Hyun as an example. He underlined how women in the entertainment sector often face a harder control than their male counterparts when it comes to personal disputes.
This discussion took place on the YouTube Channel Viewport program “Geumju Dongju of this month,” Where Mc SEO Dong-Joo, the cultural critic has Jae-Geun and the divorce lawyer Yang Na-Rae appeared as guests. The conversation touched the challenges that celebrities face during the navigation of scandals and public criticism.
During the program, SEO Dong-Joo noticed that many celebrities take breaks from their careers due to personal disputes, affirming, “Many end up moving away from the spotlight, voluntarily or not, due to personal problems.” This observation brought Jae-Geun to share his perspective on the double standards applied to young female celebrities, in particular in cases such as SEO YE-JI and Kim Jung-Hyun.
He developed the dispute on Kim Jung-Hyun’s behavior on the set, explaining that the actor had been accused of showing a non-professional conduct during a past project. However, rather than considering it responsible, much of the fault has been redirected to SEO YE-JI. “Kim Jung-Hyun showed non-professional behavior on the set and, suddenly, people hypothesized that SEO YE-JI was lighting him.
Ha Jae-Geun further criticized the way in which the situation took place, highlighting the injustice of the Seo Ye-Ji repercussions had to face compared to Kim Jung-Hyun. He stressed that Kim Jung-Hyun, as an adult, should have been responsible for his actions. “What is disconcerting is that Kim Jung-Hyun is not a child, he is an adult. If he acted without professionals on the set, this is his responsibility. But in some way, the fault has been moved entirely to SEO YE-JI, and has faced an even harder repercussions.”
SEO Dong-Joo has also expressed sympathy for SEO YE-JI, recognizing the emotional toll that such situations can take. He commented, “It was something that happened between two consenting adults. It must have been incredibly difficult for her.”
SEO YE-JI’s career has suffered significantly due to the scandal. In April 2021, he went on a prolonged break following accusations of manipulating Kim Jung-Hyun’s behavior. Although it has never been formally accused of any illegatures, the accusations on their own have been sufficient to derail his career.
More recently, SEO YE-JI has been entangled in new voices involving actor Kim Soo-Hyun, further complicating his return to the sector. However, he took a firm position against speculation, personally facing the question in a fans of Cafe on 13. He said, “I have absolutely no link with him or his brother” express frustration for those that described as voices without foundation.
The discussion on this month’s Geumju Dongju highlights a wider question in the K exception, the disproportionate criticisms that women often face compared to their male counterparts. While Kim Jung-Hyun has gradually resumed his activities, SEO YE-JI’s career has yet to recover completely, underlining the gender prejudices deeply rooted in the sector.
