On February 18, the actor Lee Jong Hyuk published a message in memory of Kim Sae Ron on his personal social media account. He wrote, “Sae Ron … my little neighbor, who shared the same birthday as me. Rest in peace. I didn’t even have the opportunity to buy you a glass of soju … I hope you can smile there. “
While apparently heard, his message quickly aroused controversy among the Netizen Koreans. The phrase “I didn’t even have the opportunity to buy you a glass of soju“He aroused strong criticisms, since Kim Sae Ron had been involved in a serious drunk scandal during his life. Many Netizen condemned the words of Lee Jong Hyuk, saying:”Considering his past, “a meal” wouldn’t have been a better choice than “a glass of soju”?” AND “As a public personality, he should have been more careful.“
Sports Chosun raised the question, “Do we really need to scrutinize and monitor every expression of mourning?“In recent years, many celebrities have dealt with a serious repercussions for their condolences messages, since the public closely monitors the way the stars pay homage to their deceased colleagues.
In December 2023, actor Shin Hyun Joon raised indignation after publishing a photo of him bringing alcohol and food to the place where Lee Sun Kyun was dead. The Netizens criticized the pole hard, saying: “I can’t believe that he publicly shared an image of the scene in which his colleague died” AND “He should have gone to the funeral house instead of visiting the park where Lee Sun Kyun was found.“The repercussions led Shin Hyun Joon to eliminate his post.
Likewise, singer Harim faced criticism after publishing a tribute to Lee Sun Kyun who said, “I think he made this decision because he felt betrayed by the public and punished by their prying eyes. Please forgive this cruel world.“However, the illustration that he used-the revenge of the Musa-Era seen as inappropriate, as he symbolized the criticisms of the artistic industry dominated by men. Following the public backlash, Harim eliminated his assignment. The singer-songwriter Kim Eana e The actor Lee Ji Hoon were also forced to remove their tributes to Lee Sun Kyun, while the Netizen accused them to be preached rather than sincerely crying the deceased actor.
The latest controversy surrounding the tribute of Lee Jong Hyuk to Kim Sae Ron follows a similar model. Sports Chosun stressed that, regardless of those who are in mourning, from how they cry or even if they choose to cry at all, public control has reached a new alarming level. At the base, pain is a deeply personal experience. However, in an era in which social media amplify indignation, even expressing condolences for a friend or lost colleague has become a potential source of disputes. While public control continues to intensify, you cannot help but be surprised, “Has pain ceased to be a private question?“
