Actor Ha Jung-woo has found himself at the center of controversy due to a comment he made on social media.
On the 20th, a snippet of Ha Jung-woo's social media activity began circulating on online communities, causing a stir. According to the post, a fan requested a nickname in the comments, to which Ha Jung-woo responded using the fan's surname 'Choi' to create the nickname "Choi-eumje," a term that translates to "aphrodisiac."
Ha Jung-woo, who opened his social media account last year after 21 years in the industry, has been engaging with fans by creating witty nicknames, fostering a friendly atmosphere. However, this particular expression sparked controversy as it unintentionally offended some. The term "aphrodisiac" refers to a substance that stimulates sexual desire, which many deemed inappropriate for public discourse.
Some netizens criticized the comment, stating, "It's hard to see this as humor," and "Using sexual expressions as jokes is disrespectful." Conversely, others defended Ha Jung-woo, noting, "The fan requested it first," and "Didn't the fan also comment 'I love you'?"
The controversial comment has since been deleted. Neither Ha Jung-woo nor his agency has released an official statement regarding the incident.
Meanwhile, Ha Jung-woo is currently directing the film 'The Neighbors Upstairs' and is set to appear in the upcoming tvN drama 'How to Become a Building Owner in Korea' next year.