Hwang Young-woong, reeling from the first revelation in a day

<<Ryu Ye-ji's yellow card>>

TenAsia reporter Ryu Ye-ji takes a proper look at the entertainment industry incidents and accidents that are attracting the most attention.

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There was no true HERO. Only the distorted ‘hero’ remains.

With each passing day, Hwang Young-woong's new past is revealed one by one. It is not just an immature act of immaturity, but the famous ‘iljin game’ itself. Amid endless revelations like an onion, Hwang Young-woong's return also became dark.

On MBC's 'True Story Exploration' broadcast on the 30th, ex-girlfriends and classmates revealed all of Hwang Young-woong's past regarding the controversy over his school violence.

Alumni compared Hwang Young-woong to Son Myung-oh of Netflix's 'The Glory'. They only bullied friends who were disabled, small, poor, or lacking in some way. It seems that he only chooses those he considers weaker than him and acts as a 'hero'.

Hwang Young-woong did not hit his friend only with force. He also started harassing me sexually. According to the testimony of a classmate, Hwang Young-woong taught a male classmate how to have sex during middle school. Afterwards, he explained that he spent his days as a promiscuous school student, ordering female classmates to demonstrate to him.

Hwang Young-woong was evil to his friends, but showed warmth to his younger brother. One witness confessed that he fractured his left clavicle in an accident with Hwang Young-woong's younger brother. At that time, Hwang Young-woong came with a long stick and threatened him. Instead of apologizing, Hwang Young-woong said, "Is this where you got hurt? You look fine, you seem worth living. Stop fooling around and tell your parents about this, and I will kill you."

Hwang Young-woong's ex-girlfriend confessed that she was beaten by Hwang Young-woong when they were dating. Not only was his girlfriend beaten at a bus stop or on the street, but she was also caught with her head pulled. He said there were times when they strangled him or kicked him in the stomach.

Hwang Young-woong has already been semi-expelled from the broadcaster, but it is expected that it will be difficult for him to return permanently due to the controversy that is not going away. Nevertheless, the only thing that remains strong is Hwang Young-woong’s fan club. This noisy fandom is surrounding Hwang Young-woong, saying it's 'just the past'. It could be said to be an example of misaligned fan sentiment.

In fact, fans went to MBN, which broadcast 'Burning Trotman', to protest. After 'True Story Expedition' aired, people complained about the controversy by going to the program's bulletin board and plastering it with abusive language and malicious comments.

In the eyes of fans, Hwang Young-woong may be a 'star singer', but to the public, he is just an ex-convict who commits violence for pleasure. Hwang Young-woong will wait for public opinion to calm down thanks to the support of his fans, but there is no public waiting and welcoming his return.

Broadcasting companies also have no choice but to look into the wishes of their viewers. There is no reason for a program that views the entire nation as viewers to risk casting Hwang Young-woong while going against public opinion. In that sense, Hwang Young-woong’s ‘impossibility of return’ is almost certain.

Hwang Young-woong has gone into hiding, and fans are causing secondary harm to the victims due to their misguided fan sentiment. In the end, even the perception of Hwang Young-woong’s fan club plummeted. Producer Seo Hye-jin, who tried to protect Hwang Young-woong until the end, also appears to be giving up. Forgetting ‘Burning Trotman’, we are accelerating preparations for a new entertainment show. Everything crashed as fast as it could.

Ryu Ye-ji, Ten Asia Reporter ryuperstar@tenasia.co.kr