Kim Dong-wan, a member of the group Shinhwa and an actor, has stirred controversy by advocating for the legalization of prostitution.
Through a series of posts, Kim argued for the legalization, stating, "In trying to eliminate red-light districts, the entire country has become one. Seeing these districts in front of churches, schools, and police stations raises concerns," he wrote on the 17th. He further added, "We need to acknowledge and manage it." Responding to a netizen who expressed mixed feelings about legalization, Kim replied, "The reason I believe it should be legalized is that some people can't do without paying for it. It's also a matter of disease control."
His comments have sparked a backlash. Netizens reacted coldly, saying, "I've read many of Kim Dong-wan's posts before, but this is the most disappointing," "I'm shocked," and "It's dizzying."
Kim Dong-wan later posted again to elaborate on his views. On the 19th, he shared a lengthy post on his social media about anonymity. He began by stating, "The culture of hate has grown excessively under the mask of anonymity." Kim criticized the misuse of anonymity, saying, "We need an era where people are accountable for their words. It's time to seriously consider whether to keep anonymous boards or introduce real names and verification."
On the 20th, Kim posted a video of himself enjoying baseball on the thread, saying, "I'll return to the thread when I become a baseball king. I'm having fun, friends," before closing it. However, he reactivated his account about two hours later, stating, "I'll keep it open since there's a controversial article," drawing attention.
By Soo-min Lee, TenAsia Reporter danbilee19@tenasia.co.kr