On February 1, a post titled “The person next to Jung Hae In in the racism post is Benson Boone – here are some facts” began circulating in an online community. The author explained that the man sitting on Jung Hae In’s right was Benson Boone, a singer currently active in the United States. While acknowledging that there may have been moments perceived as rude, the poster argued that labeling him as racist was excessive and unfair.
The post further stated that Benson Boone had visited Korea and engaged in activities there even before achieving mainstream success, consistently showing affection for Korean culture. To support this, the author shared a short interview clip filmed at Dolce&Gabbana fashion showwhere Jung Hae In and Benson Boone appeared together in a friendly exchange. In the video, Boone complimented Jung Hae In’s white dress, saying she looked great, and asked how she felt about participating in the show. Jung Hae In replied with a smile that she was having a great time and described her outfit like this “elegant and warm,” creating a warm and relaxed atmosphere between the two.
Photos from Benson Boone’s past visit to Korea were also shared, including an image that drew attention for showing the words “I ♥ Korea” written on his stomach, further strengthening claims of his positive attitude towards the country.
After the post gained traction, many netizens responded by saying that Benson Boone had been unfairly labeled a racist, with comments like “He was wrongly accused” AND “He is someone who loves Korea – this must seem unfair.”
The original controversy began when Jung Hae In appeared isolated in a video shot at Dolce&Gabbana fashion show held in Milan, Italy, on January 17. The footage showed him sitting among foreign attendees, leading some viewers to believe he was ignored or treated dismissively. Although Jung Hae In attracted local media attention that day for her white dress paired with a silk shirt, criticism intensified when a fashion magazine uploaded a video tagging other attendees on social media but leaving Jung Hae In untagged. This omission fueled accusations of racial discrimination, with netizens denouncing the situation “clear racism” and saying he was treated like a “transparent person”.
As more context comes to light, opinions remain divided, but the discussion has shifted towards caution in drawing hasty conclusions, underscoring the importance of understanding the full context before labeling individuals or situations as discriminatory.
Sources: Nate
