The story of a Korean star not being recognized on public transportation is drawing attention.
The story about a top actor taking the public subway is gaining resurgent interest as it involves commuters’ reactions, or lack thereof, to the actor’s presence on the means of transportation.
In 2019, Ha Jung Woo released a photo of himself on a public subway, due to the heavy traffic, to attend an event at the Pangyo Hyundai Department Store. While the actor initially wore inconspicuous clothes to avoid attention, Ha Jung Woo soon realized he was not drawing any attention because everyone had their eyes on their phones. He also removed his mask (it was before the pandemic) to take a photo per request from the fashion brand he was working with and no one batted an eye.
The photo gained attention from netizens. Whereas some people expressed regret not taking the subway to have a chance to meet him, others were more vocal about the habit, and dependence, on electronic devices of commuters.
Regardless of netizens’ opinions, Ha Jung Woo took rather comfort in the fact that he was not mobbed and bothered by other people. He said, “That day, I had dinner plans in Gangnam, but it was rush hour, so I couldn’t take my car. I had no choice but to take the subway, and I received a call from the brand asking for a photo of me wearing this t-shirt. So I thought, ‘Ok, I’ll just take a quick photo and send it,’ and took that photo right there.”
Ha Jung Woo debuted in 2002. He rose to popularity within one year thanks to “Madeleine.” The actor proved overwhelming talent and joined the top star station of Korean cinema with “The Chaser,” “Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time,” and “The Handmaiden.”
With “Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds,” Ha Jung Woo was shot to pan-Asian stardom. He became one of the highest-grossing actors in Korea. According to released statistics, most of the movies starring Ha Jung Woo receive more than 100 million ticket sales.
Source: KB
