Hong Jin Kyung, a broadcaster embroiled in controversy over political color, has once again clarified and apologized through a video.
On the 2nd, a day before the 21st presidential election, Hong Jin Kyung uploaded multiple photos taken during a visit to a clothing store in Stockholm, Sweden to her social account. However, in the photos, Hong Jin Kyung is wearing red sweaters of different designs, stirring up political color controversy.
As the controversy grew, Hong Jin Kyung posted a handwritten letter on the 3rd and apologized. She said, "I often felt sorry watching celebrities who engage in actions that could be misunderstood during the voting period, and yet, during this sensitive time, I have committed such a foolish mistake. I am truly at a loss myself. The photos posted on my feed were taken two days ago in a store in Stockholm. I thought the design was interesting, but I did not consider the color of the top I was wearing at the time."
She continued, "Having lived away from Korea for so long, I seem to have lost the sense of tension. Regardless of the reasons, I was entirely at fault. I have nothing to say even if I had ten mouths, and it is clear that I made a mistake. During this sensitive time for everyone, I sincerely apologize for confusing your feelings. I'm truly sorry."
However, it was pointed out that it is incomprehensible for Hong Jin Kyung, who had previously filmed content inviting three major candidates for the presidential election to have discussions, to make such a mistake a day before the election. Even after her clarification, some interpreted the 'red clothing' photos shared by Hong Jin Kyung as having political intent and showed a cold reaction.
Amid this, Hong Jin Kyung uploaded a video titled "The truth about the red clothing" on the 10th on her channel 'Gongbu Wang Jjin Cheonjae.' After finishing her overseas business trip and returning to Korea on the 7th, she met with the production team to once again clarify the controversy. She stated, "I apologized through SNS, but what I meant was that I had no thoughts at that time. I should not have been someone who had no thoughts because I had interviewed the three presidential candidates. I should have remained cautious and tense throughout, so I wholeheartedly apologize for that."
She added, "From now on, I will only tell you the truth. My mom used to say, ‘Swear on your conscience,’ but I think people wouldn’t believe my conscience. So, I have a truly precious daughter. I will vow and tell you with her life on the line. I think you will believe it when you see Rael, who is sitting quietly. At the moment I posted the photo in the red clothing, I didn’t think of any specific candidate or political party; I had no thoughts about Korea at all. There was not even a moment of hesitation or doubt about posting a photo in red. I just thought the clothing was beautiful and that I should post it quickly because the picture turned out well. That is my truth."
She said, "If my words are true, my daughter will live a healthy and happy life as she wishes. If there is even a little falsehood in my words, everything I do will fail, and perhaps my life will end so badly that I would fall and smash my nose. She is a daughter I wouldn't feel pain even if I put her in my eyes. I can give my life a hundred or a thousand times for her, and this precious daughter allows me to swear this terrifying oath, which could prove my innocence." She added, "I feel very calm now. Because it's not a lie. Our Rael will live better if I am truthful. Happy and healthy. That's why I can speak so confidently. Rael said she received DMs during her time in Northern Europe. No matter how South Koreans evaluate her mom, I’m on her side." She emphasized, "How could I, being left with such a beautiful child, make such a terrifying vow for my own sake? There was no intention at all."
In particular, Hong Jin Kyung said, "I will be completely honest with you. I left for abroad before the early voting. Therefore, I couldn’t vote. My schedule in Helsinki was tightly packed, with meetings with buyers arranged since the beginning of the year, and the election schedule was set suddenly, making it impossible for me to meet it. I am someone who left without even being able to vote. I worked tightly from Helsinki to Tallinn. I went for business, and only when I went over to Sweden did my business schedule come to an end, and I was given my free time." She continued, "As soon as I arrived on June 1, I unpacked my luggage at our accommodation and realized that there was a brand I really wanted to go to, a Swedish brand. The store was 600m from our lodging. I was excited. From that moment, I lost my mind. I don’t wear red clothing. But the sweater design was just so pretty. While I was changing in the fitting room, someone pushed this (another red sweater) into the fitting room and told me to try it on. So, I wore it and took photos, excitedly posting them to my SNS without a second thought that day."
Hong Jin Kyung, who never expected the controversy to spread, stated, "I believe my sin was that I had no thoughts. I should have remembered that it was Korea's presidential election period and remained tense until the end, and I apologize once again for that. However, outside of that, I had no intention whatsoever." She added that the equity controversy surrounding her interviews with presidential candidates was only intended to create an opportunity for the public to hear candidates' policies in detail, noting, "I hope there is no misunderstanding regarding the order, which was decided by rolling dice for the upload order."
In response to the controversy surrounding PD Seok Ro, Hong Jin Kyung said, "There may be people uncomfortable with PD Seok Ro because he is from TV Chosun, but PD Seok Ro joined there, worked, and then left to start a YouTube production company. He did not only apply to TV Chosun." The PD expressed, "I also put my life on the line and ensured fairness in everything, from the thumbnails to the distribution volume and even the size of our faces."
Following this, a recorded version of her business trip to Northern Europe from May 22 to June 6 was released. The recording included the entire process of her taking photos in the problematic red sweater. Hong Jin Kyung shopped after hearing that her favorite brand had an offline store near her accommodation, and she was seen strolling through the streets of Stockholm wearing the red sweater she purchased there. Before posting a photo at 9 p.m. local time (4 a.m. in Korea), she woke up after receiving dozens of missed calls at 7 a.m. the next day (2 p.m. in Korea) and uploaded her clarification.
At that time, Hong Jin Kyung stated, "People were surprised. I was surprised as soon as I woke up; I had 84 calls. I wrote it with all my heart, but I have no words even if I had ten mouths. How was I so thoughtless? I think of my mom. My mom. Poor her. She must have had joyful days thanks to her children, but I wonder how she feels watching over this. I worry about my mom. I’ve had some troubling personal issues. I wanted to forget everything. Then this incident happened. I don’t know what will happen," she said, with tears in her eyes, adding, "Let’s stop filming. It’s too hard."
Before returning home, Hong Jin Kyung, while hiking, remarked, "Not having any thoughts is also a sin. I am thinking about how I can clear up the misunderstandings. Just by walking. If I let time pass like this, it will be forgotten; will you acknowledge me? I don’t think misunderstandings will be resolved this way." She then announced her determination to address the matter directly, adding through subtitles, "I sincerely apologize for disappointing you all. I will be careful to think and act more carefully in the future. Please forgive me just this once."
[Photo] OSEN DB, Gongbu Wang Jjin Cheonjae Hong Jin Kyung
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