Kim Jung-hyun appeared on MBC’s “Radio Star”, marking his first-ever variety show appearance in his nine-year career as an actor. He mentioned that his fans had even organized a “worry committee” in anticipation of the show, saying, “They seem to be worried that I might get into an awkward situation.” Despite expressing discomfort with being the center of attention, he sang Kim Kwang-seok’s “Around Thirty” live without accompaniment right from the start.
He also revealed that dancing in an advertisement had given him trauma, confessing, “I practiced for two weeks, but it didn’t work out.” He then attempted the dance in front of MC Kim Gura, who humorously commented, “It doesn’t look like a dance you practiced for two weeks.” Additionally, Kim Jung-hyun shared a past story about sparring with actor Choi Tae-joon and demonstrated self-defense using jiu-jitsu.
Despite fans’ concerns, Kim Jung-hyun impressed viewers with his singing, dancing and overall variety show performance. After the broadcast, netizens expressed surprise, “I didn’t know Kim Jung-hyun had this side to him.” However, some criticized his return to entertainment, “He hurt his co-star, yet he’s already back on a variety show.”
The controversy dates back to 2021, when actress Seo Ye-ji was accused of gaslighting Kim Jung-hyun. In 2018, while filming MBC’s drama “Time”, Kim Jung-hyun left the production early due to health issues. During the drama’s press conference, he refused to link arms with co-star Seohyun and displayed an unenthusiastic and stiff demeanor, sparking public criticism.
It was revealed that romantic and kissing scenes were indeed reduced or cut from the script. According to one report, “After touching Seohyun’s hand during filming, Kim Jung-hyun would wipe his hands with a wet tissue right after the scene. Whether it was a misunderstanding or not, Seohyun saw this and broke down in tears on set.” Although Kim Jung-hyun reportedly apologized to Seohyun privately, his behavior did not change significantly afterward.
Three years later, Kim Jung-hyun issued a handwritten apology, expressing regret to the staff and his fellow actors. While many believe the criticism toward him is excessive, others argue that his behavior caused significant disruptions, including major script revisions and emotional harm to his co-star Seohyun. Although not a criminal act, the incident left a lasting impact, and public opinion remains divided on Kim Jung-hyun’s attempt to move forward from the scandal.
Source: Daum