In the early hours of January 12, Seohyun shared a thought-provoking statement through a fan communication platform, writing, “The ultimate winner is the good person.” This post came shortly after news broke that Kim Jung-hyun had apologized to Seohyun after 6 years, attracting public focus.
Previously on January 11, the recorded broadcast of the 2024 KBS Drama Awards aired on KBS 2TV. The ceremony, held on December 31 at KBS Hall in Yeouido, Seoul, was hosted by Jang Sung-kyu, Girls’ Generation’s Seohyun, and actor Moon Sang-min.
Here, Kim Jung-hyun won the Best Male Actor award for his role in “Iron Family” and addressed his past controversy, specifically referring to his behavior from 6 years ago. Seohyun, serving as the MC for the event, was on stage when Kim Jung-hyun made the statement, making it rather apparent that the apology was directed at her.
Specifically, Kim Jung-hyun began his speech by thanking God and acknowledging his shortcomings, expressing gratitude for being able to stand on the stage despite the difficulties he had faced. He then referenced his past behavior, “When I started acting, I engaged in very bad behavior and did things I shouldn’t have, causing many people pain and making them frown. I want to sincerely apologize here. I don’t think an apology is the end of it. I don’t expect forgiveness, but I thought this was a necessary process to continue my life.”
However, his apology was seen by many as inappropriate for the occasion, as it was delivered during a ceremony where Seohyun was present. While he didn’t directly mention Seohyun in his speech, the controversy surrounding his actions had clearly affected her, and many felt his apology was poorly timed and lacked consideration for her. Some netizens voiced their dissatisfaction, stating that the apology came too late, six years after the incident, and questioned its sincerity. Others pointed out the discomfort felt by the director, writer, and staff involved at the time.
Meanwhile, Kim Jung-hyun first faced criticism for his behavior at the press conference for MBC’s drama “Time” in 2018. At the event, he not only refused to link arms with Seohyun but also maintained an unengaged demeanor, shocking everyone. At the time, his agency explained that Kim Jung-hyun had been overly immersed in his role and was experiencing health-related difficulties.
In 2021, further controversy emerged regarding Kim Jung-hyun’s personal life, as allegations surfaced that actress Seo Ye-ji had gaslighted him. Reports claimed that Seo Ye-ji had instructed Kim Jung-hyun to avoid skinship and romantic scenes in the drama. This led to the resurfacing of the “Time” press conference controversy.
In response, Kim Jung-hyun published a handwritten apology on April 14, 2021, saying, “The process of leaving ‘Time’ midway and my behavior at the press conference were wrong. I sincerely apologize to Seohyun and everyone else who suffered because of my actions at the time.”