"There was no inappropriate relationship," WOOJIN ultimately bowed his head... Will he regain trust after stepping down from the performance?

Musical actors Park Jun-hwi and WOOJIN, caught in an infidelity scandal, finally broke their silence and made an official statement after about 10 days. Both denied having an inappropriate relationship, saying, “It’s not true,” but it remains uncertain how persuasive their belated explanation can be, given the already resulted step down from the performance.

On the 5th, Park Jun-hwi and WOOJIN found themselves in the public eye due to a photo. The photo, posted on Park Jun-hwi's social media, showed him and WOOJIN bowing their heads side by side, both in underwear. Subsequent content of messages they exchanged was revealed, raising suspicions that they might be in an infidelity scandal just ahead of a wedding.

The spark was not just the photo. With the publication of a wedding contract that Park Jun-hwi had with his fiancée, Ms. A, the controversy intensified. Although the photo was deleted within 10 minutes, it had already spread across social media and online communities, causing a larger uproar.

Ultimately, both actors stepped down from 'Nijinsky' and 'Bare: The Musical,' and some performances were completely canceled. In a situation where both audiences and production companies suffered damage, the two actors were pointed out as a typical example of how personal life controversies had a detrimental effect on the performing arts.

On the 14th, about ten days later, following Park Jun-hwi, WOOJIN also broke his silence by revealing a handwritten letter on his social media. WOOJIN explained, "I had a meal to discuss the performance and visited the actor's personal space for sanitary reasons, and I was on a video call with my fiancée, so I just sought permission through a messenger, fearing it might be disruptive."

Still, he noted, "Visiting the actor's personal space was my fault," adding, "There was no inappropriate relationship or behavior, and the scene in the photo was just a surprised reaction to a sudden situation." He particularly stated, "I apologized directly to my fiancée and cannot claim to be the victim," acknowledging his own carelessness and bowing his head.

Although both actors took steps to deny the allegations and correct misunderstandings, public opinion remains divided. While some responded, "I support their attitude to clarify the truth, even now," others criticized, saying, "It's too late for an explanation after stepping down from the performances." Above all, since the personal life controversy impacted the performing arts as a whole, there are bitter assessments that this situation is reminiscent of 'closing the barn door after the horse has bolted.'

The likelihood of returning to the works they stepped down from seems low for now. The disappointment among the affected production companies and audiences is significant, and public trust has yet to be restored. However, some see that if time passes, the situation calms down, and the sincerity of the two is gradually accepted, the possibility of a future return could remain open.

Due to the nature of theater and musicals, a single mistake does not completely end a career. However, for that to become an 'opportunity' to stand in front of the public again, it must be accompanied by a heartfelt apology and ongoing reflection. The two actors, who have been loved by audiences through performances, are now under scrutiny to see if they can rise again on stage after overcoming the pain of sudden controversies and stepping down, and whether this explanation can serve as the first step toward regaining trust.

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