“Her character from The Glory has come to life.” This was just one of many scathing comments directed at actress Lim Ji Yeon, who has found herself at the center of multiple controversies — again.
The recent storm stems from her social media post showcasing a gold dress she wore to the ‘Love Your W 2025’ breast cancer awareness gala, hosted by W Korea on October 15 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul. The event, meant to highlight early breast cancer detection and raise funds, faced massive backlash for being more of a celebrity spectacle than a serious awareness campaign.
Photos and videos from the event showing celebrities clinking glasses, striking glamorous poses, and participating in what seemed more like a luxury party, quickly spread online. Netizens slammed the event as tone-deaf, calling it a “breast cancer party” that trivialized the cause it claimed to support.
W Korea issued a public apology four days later, admitting the event’s “execution and atmosphere were inappropriate” and promising a thorough review. However, the damage had been done.
One of the photos W Korea uploaded before deleting event footage featured Lim Ji Yeon’s fashion shoot, prompting netizens to flood her unrelated Instagram post with criticism. Comments ranged from “Take this down,” to “Why post photos from such a controversial event?” Others even sarcastically suggested audits or more serious consequences.
Yet, not everyone agreed with the vitriol. Some commenters pointed out that Lim Ji Yeon left the event early, didn’t attend the afterparty, and should not be blamed for the event’s overall tone. “I was there that day — Lim Ji Yeon actually left earlier than Park Eun Bin,” and “She left during dinner and didn’t even attend the afterparty.”
The backlash was intensified by a resurfaced incident from the Blue Dragon Film Awards, where Lim Ji Yeon was seen enthusiastically applauding actor Jung Woo Sung, who had just publicly apologized for a scandal involving his private life and unacknowledged child. While Jung’s speech received mixed reactions, Lim’s visibly supportive response drew ire, with netizens questioning her judgment.
Critics said, “How can a woman support a man who treats women as toys?” and “Her real-life actions mirror her role in The Glory.” Lim Ji Yeon later responded, saying her gesture was “a spontaneous moment” and she had not anticipated the reaction it would spark.
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