On June 3, as the date for the 21st presidential election, the entire nation is experiencing a sensitive time, and posts from stars on social media are becoming an issue as they get unexpectedly entangled in ‘political color controversies’. However, some entertainers quickly calmed the situation through prompt clarifications and apologies, honestly stating their original intentions.

Hong Jin Kyung: “A foolish mistake during such a time… I clearly made a mistake.”

Broadcaster Hong Jin Kyung posted a photo wearing a red knit sweater taken in Sweden on the day before the election, which led to a political color controversy. As the symbolic color of People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo was ‘red’, some interpreted it as support for a particular political party.

Hong Jin Kyung posted a handwritten apology the day after the controversy, bowing his head and saying, “I am sorry and very foolish for acting in a way that could be misunderstood during the voting period.” He clarified, “It was just a photo taken for fun two days ago in Stockholm, and there was no political intention whatsoever,” firmly stating, “Regardless of the reason, it is all my responsibility.”

aeSpa Karina: “It’s just numbers and patterns... It has nothing to do with politics.”

Karina, a member of the girl group aeSpa, also faced misunderstandings of being a ‘supporter of candidate number 2’ due to an SNS post wearing a jumper with a red pattern and the number 2 on it. Although some officials from the People Power Party mentioned ‘shoutouts’ and support responses followed, Karina immediately deleted the post and expressed her stance.

Her agency, SM Entertainment, stated, “Karina’s post is just a daily update and has nothing to do with the election. We have recognized the potential for misunderstanding and deleted it immediately,” adding, “We sincerely apologize for any concern caused.” Karina has distanced herself from political expressions even in her personal activities, and this controversy was deemed a typical case of ‘overinterpretation’.

Beenzino: “I just wanted to share a good day... There was no political intention.”

Rapper Beenzino also stirred controversy after posting a photo of himself wearing red clothes with his son. He introduced his outfit, including red pants, alongside a humorous phrase saying, “World Red Day,” but given it was a sensitive time before the presidential election, it soon led to a political color controversy.

Beenzino quickly posted an apology, stating, “There was truly no political intention. I just wanted to share a pleasant daily life,” noting, “I clearly made a mistake in not considering the timing as it was during early voting.”

Park Sung-kwang: “It’s just a blue sky... There was no political implication.”

Comedian Park Sung-kwang posted a photo of a blue sky and a blue roof on social media with the phrase, 'Who should I vote for?' When this led to interpretations suggesting support for candidate number 1, he immediately re-uploaded the same photo with a black-and-white filter to clarify the situation.

Park Sung-kwang stated, “I just uploaded a photo taken out my window,” adding, “I had no intention to support a specific party, and I regret raising suspicions.”

Thus, while social media serves as a platform for communication, it can sometimes lead to unintended controversies during politically sensitive times. However, these stars all tried to maintain their trust with fans through quick and sincere clarifications. It may be more important to focus on the attitude and responsibility behind the expression rather than the expression itself.

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