‘Suspicion of affair’ Kang Kyung-jun, “I want to hug you” Why private conversations need to be explained

≪Choi Ji-ye’s Epilogue≫
Reporter Choi Ji-ye of Ten Asia objectively and keenly points out events that have occurred throughout the entertainment industry. We carefully analyze the ‘glitch’ you missed from a reporter’s perspective.

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An explanation is needed. Actor Kang Kyung-jun, who has recently been on the chopping block due to allegations of adultery, is closing his eyes, covering his ears, and covering his mouth. Kang Kyung-jun has been silent about the suspicions of his affair for almost a week.

On the 3rd, it was reported that Kang Kyung-jun was accused of incest and was sued in December last year for damages worth 50 million won. At the time, Kang Kyung-jun's agency bought time by saying, "There is a possibility of misunderstanding" and "we plan to respond sequentially."

However, on the 8th, it was revealed that Kang Kyung-joon had a private conversation with a married woman, Mr. A, saying, "I love you," "I miss you," and "I want to hug you." Afterwards, his agency K-Star Global said, "The answer is because it is the actor's private life." “It is impossible,” he said, “We were discussing extending the exclusive contract, but we decided to stop it due to this incident. We apologize for causing social controversy,” effectively acknowledging the suspicion. Some say that the agency has taken steps to cut off Kang Kyung-jun, given that discussions on extending his exclusive contract have been halted.

Among these, Kang Kyung-jun also remains silent. In particular, he cut himself off from the public by shutting down his SNS, which he had used as a channel of communication with the public. It is contrary to the recent trend in the entertainment industry, which usually announces its position through social media when an unfair frame is framed or an explanation is needed.

Accordingly, voices calling for an explanation from Kang Kyung-jun are growing. Celebrities are also people with private lives, and some say that private life should be left to the individual, but Kang Kyung-jun's case is different. This is because Kang Kyung-jun met the public as a father to his children and his wife, actor Jang Shin-young, who was directly linked to the suspicion of infidelity, and through this he gained economic income and added value.

As an actor, he has not been active since making a special appearance in the JTBC sitcom 'Era Chacha Waikiki' in 2018, the movie 'Scent of a Ghost' in 2019, and the musical 'Bodyguard' in 2020. To the public, Kang Kyung-jun recently functioned as a husband of a woman and a father of two children, and his existence value was recognized through that image.

Starting with his appearance in the SBS entertainment program 'Same Bed, Different Dreams' with Jang Shin-young in 2020, Kang Kyung-jun met the public with the image of a lover towards Jang Shin-young, a single mother suffering from divorce. After having a second son with Jang Shin-young, he appeared as a regular on KBS 2TV's entertainment program 'The Return of Superman', showing the appearance of a harmonious remarried family. Kang Kyung-jun communicated with the public with the concept of a good husband and a great father by showing him becoming a family with Jeong-an, who Jang Shin-young gave birth to with her ex-husband, and raising his second son, Jeong-woo.

This is precisely why criticism is pouring in for deceiving the public. The suspicion of Tablo from Epik High, a group active in music creation and stage performance, forging his Stanford University academic background is not fatal (but in reality it was fatal), but the issue of plagiarism in his master's thesis by Seol Min-seok, a lecturer who meets the public through history lectures, has shaken the foundation of identity. It becomes a problem to that extent. In recent years, Kang Kyung-jun has met the public only as a 'lover' and 'superman' father, so the fact that his private conversations with a married woman are known is likely to raise issues related to 'hypocrisy' and 'deception'.

If Kang Kyung-jun had only met the public through broadcasts, screens, and stages without any special exposure to his private life, he might have received some sympathy for his actions. However, when the public sees Kang Kyung-jun, the faces of Jang Shin-young and their two sons come to mind. Kang Kyeong-jun's latest affair is not something that can be viewed only from the perspective of a married man's deviance or private life. Kang Kyung-Jun has shut down his SNS and kept his mouth shut, but he will have to actively provide an explanation. If there is a misunderstanding, we must resolve it, and if there is a mistake, we must bow our heads and apologize. Not only his family, but also the public feels like he has been stabbed by Kang Kyung-jun.

Choi Ji-ye, Ten Asia Reporter wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr