'Lee Jun-hyuk becoming Lee Jun-young incident' I thought it ended warmly... What about the criticism aimed at Jun Hyun-moo?
Actor Lee Jun-young's awards ceremony incident, where he almost became 'Lee Jun-hyuk', is unexpectedly escalating into controversy. Although the protagonists, Lee Jun-young and Lee Jun-hyuk, ended it happily with mutual understanding and consideration, some fans' excessive reactions are turning into a debate over responsibility surrounding host Jun Hyun-moo.
On the 18th, during the 4th Blue Dragon Series Awards held at PARADISE City in Incheon, actor Lee Jun-hyuk was announced as the recipient of the 'Upbit Popular Star Award', but an incident occurred where the similarly named actor Lee Jun-young went up on stage. In that confusing moment, host Jun Hyun-moo said, 'Mr. Lee Jun-young is also a popular star. However, this year, Mr. Lee Jun-hyuk was the popular star. I should have pronounced it correctly...’ to resolve the situation.
Lee Jun-young then came down from the stage and handed the trophy to Lee Jun-hyuk, embracing him, and Lee Jun-hyuk also lightened the mood with a cheerful joke. Afterward, Lee Jun-young apologized via social media, saying, 'I made a silly mistake because I couldn't hear well at the venue,' and Lee Jun-hyuk responded, 'Thanks to you, it was fun. Don’t worry too much. Let’s grab a meal next time.' The incident seemed to have a warm conclusion.
However, the controversy took an unexpected turn. Some fans of Lee Jun-young flooded Jun Hyun-moo’s social media with comments demanding an official apology, arguing that 'Jun Hyun-moo caused confusion with his inaccurate pronunciation.' Some claimed, 'It was a mocking tone toward Lee Jun-young,' raising issues with his attitude. Conversely, many viewers expressed concern over excessive fan sentiment, stating, 'Looking back, Jun Hyun-moo pronounced it as 'Lee Jun-hyuk' accurately, and it was simply an incident caused by confusion due to noise and tension at the venue.' Especially, even Shin Dong-yeob, who co-hosted, laughed it off, saying, 'I’ve hosted award ceremonies for over 30 years, but today was the most fun,' highlighting the forgiving attitude.
The person involved, Lee Jun-young, also mentioned this matter again at a fan meeting on the 19th, firmly stating, 'The MC was not wrong. It was entirely my mistake.' When host Ha Ji-young joked, 'Jun Hyun-moo made a mistake,' Lee Jun-young repeatedly waved his hands, showing his embarrassment and saying, 'No, no.'
In fact, during the ceremony, Lee Jun-young repeatedly apologized to Lee Jun-hyuk even during the commercial breaks of the live broadcast, and at the end of the ceremony's group stage, he conveyed a warm message, saying, 'I’m sorry, senior. I love you.' In response, Lee Jun-hyuk also warmly replied, 'I once made the same mistake at the AAA awards. It seems like it’s our fate.'
However, the criticism from some fans did not easily subside, and Jun Hyun-moo indirectly expressed his feelings by liking supportive comments on his posts without making an official statement. This has led internet users to express their sympathy, saying, 'It’s a frustrating situation where he can't even make a fair explanation.'
Essentially, the essence of the incident was simply misperception and misunderstanding, and the actors' and MC’s flexible handling of the moment deserves praise. However, the sharp reactions poured out under the name of fan sentiment have obscured the authentic apologies and reconciliation of the parties involved, unfairly shifting responsibility to the wrong individuals. Of course, anyone can make mistakes during live broadcasts. What matters is the attitude afterward. Lee Jun-young and Lee Jun-hyuk demonstrated this better than anyone. Fans, too, may need to embody the maturity of the actors, embracing a calmness that allows them to laugh off situations rather than resorting to excessive 'overprotection.'
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