In a heartfelt post on her SNS on October 19, Kwon Mina revealed that her older sister is battling stage 3 breast cancer and that their father died of pancreatic cancer. Referring to the recent “I love your W 2025” charity event organized by W Korea, criticized the event’s party atmosphere, saying it lacked genuine empathy.
“If they had really cared about breast cancer patients and their families, such a party would never have been organized,” he wrote. “Just watching it made me uncomfortable and pained.”
Photos from the October 15 event at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul sparked negative reactions as many celebrities were seen drinking and partying. Adding fuel to the fire, singer Jay Park performed his song “Mom”, which contains explicit lyrics about the female body – a move that many found inappropriate given the theme of the event.
South Korea initially remained silent but eventually apologized, admitting what had happened the execution was not in line with its mission to promote breast cancer awareness. They acknowledged that they had not taken into account the emotional sensitivities of patients and families, promising to reflect and do better in future campaigns.
“We deeply apologize for the distress and pain caused to breast cancer patients and their families,” we read in the press release.
Kwon Mina’s candid remarks resonated with many online, sparking further conversations about how organizations they should approach charity events with more sensitivity and authenticity.
Full statement from Kwon Mina
My father died of pancreatic cancer and my older sister has lived in fear for years due to breast cancer.
It was discovered at stage 3, so they had to remove a large portion of it, and during chemotherapy all her hair fell out. Furthermore, due to the side effects, he gained weight and the costs of the treatment were enormous.
Pancreatic cancer is extremely difficult to cure unless a miracle happens, but on the other hand, it seems like there are people who think that breast cancer is very easily treatable if caught early… Even though I haven’t experienced it myself, watching it from the side was so painful, heartbreaking and sad.
If they had truly cared about breast cancer patients, thought about them, and even considered the hearts of their families, such a celebration would never have taken place. I believe that making a good donation, regardless of the amount, is in itself something admirable. But when the headline is “breast cancer” and it’s paired with glamorous, elegant and joyful photos… well, it brought a lot of thoughts to mind. Honestly, the moment I saw it, I felt uncomfortable and distressed.
Who am I to dare say anything, but please understand this: Cancer patients and their families can be deeply hurt by even the smallest things. Please take this into consideration.
Sources: W Korea, Instagram
