They Have Lives Too: Earlier this year, I watched this intriguing Kdrama(yeah, I’m one of those) titled “Imitation“, based on a webtoon of the same title. The drama
tells a story of the lives of idols in the entertainment industry. How most of
them started training from an early age, with only few of them finally making
it to limelight. You’ll see kids of say 7-9 years old, training tirelessly for
a dream they might not be able to achieve.
And when they finally get to the top, they can’t even live their lives
without their agency and fans dictating their every move. They have to watch
what they eat, who they talk to, ohh and some of the guys can’t even date because
they have to remain single for the female fans. This could be the reason why
some of them end up taking their own lives.
This made me think of Korean actor Ji Soo’s scandal in March, 2021. Although
Ji Soo made his debut in 2009, he became popular in 2015 after he appeared in
the high school dramas Angry Mom and Cheer Up. I personnally
got to know Ji Soo after I saw his performance in the Korean Historical drama, Moon
Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, which aired in 2016. Finally finding his
footing, Ji Soo joined KeyEast, a management agency owned by actor Bae
Yong-joon, the contract was signed 2020.
On the 2nd of March, 2020, an anonymous post was made on an online forum,
accusing Ji Soo of being a bully during his school years. Fans turned against
him, he lost endsorments and his contracts got cancelled. In fact, he was on
the set of River Where the Moon Rises when this happened but he was
taken off the show, Na In-woo was asked to replace him as the lead actor.
Ji Soo was forced to issue a public apology where he accepted the
allegations and begged for forgiveness. Few weeks later, his new agency KeyEast
issued a statement confirming Ji Soo’s activities will be on hold due to his
military enlistment in October 2021. (Just tell us that y’all threw him away).
After further investigations, it was confirmed that Ji Soo was innocent
after all.
Last week, a lady made a post on social media, accusing another Korean
actor, Kim Seon-ho, of emotional abuse. According to her, the actor coerced her
into getting an abortion while the two were dating after he promised to marry
her.
Kim Seon-ho just got recognition last year, for his role in the drama, Start-Up.
He did so well that he bagged himself the award for Most Popular Actor, at the
Baeksang Arts Awards this year. He had so many projects lined up for this year
and had just finished up his role in the drama Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha before this
scandal.
Just yesterday, Seon-ho issued an apology, accepting his faults in the
matter, after which the said “ex-girlfriend” returned to say that it
was all a misunderstanding. Seon-ho has already lost contracts and endsorments
due to this scandal. He has been replaced in some movie roles and then she says
it’s a misunderstanding… Wawu!
Imagine struggling for years to get to where you are, only for one
unfortunate fellow to accuse you for one thing or the other just to bring you
down. Even if they were guilty, why wait till they were at the peak of their
career, why are you bringing it up now. Why can’t humans be genuinely happy for
one another? Why are we always trying to bring each other down?
This does not only happen in Korea. It is in every entertainment industry
and we all have a role to play in it. Why would you release a celebrity’s sex
tape? Don’t you have sex? Imagine yourself, your sister, or your lover in that
situation? How would you feel when people watch the tape and make sarcastic
comments about it? So why should you watch it? Why should you even post it?
Celebrities have their lives to live too.
