Actress Seo Yea-ji has transformed the controversies surrounding her into a skit. Responses have ranged from frowning upon this as 'satirical treatment' to recognizing her genuine efforts to be honest and laid-back.
On the 12th, Seo Yea-ji appeared as a host on the show 'SNL Korea 7', released through Coupang Play, presenting various skits with the crew.
Before officially starting the skit, Seo Yea-ji said, 'It’s a bit burdensome, but I will do my best to meet your expectations. I will work hard and not leave anything out.' In response, Shin Dong-kyu asked, 'Specifically, how do you intend to work hard?' Seo Yea-ji replied, 'I will gaslight the crew to make it entertaining.'
From Seo Yea-ji's first skit challenge, the content hinted at the controversies she has faced. Transforming into 'Seo Yea-ji PT', a parody of the popular ChatGPT, Seo Yea-ji gaslit Kim Won-ho, making him depend on her. This invoked thoughts of the gaslighting controversy, and during this process, she advised Kim Won-ho, who couldn't mention the help he received from AI, saying, 'The real embarrassment is sitting quietly and being ignored without saying anything. How unfair is that? I've experienced a lot of it myself.' This evoked memories of the recent rumor regarding Kim Soo-hyun's alleged cheating.
In the second corner, 'Eve Beauty Salon', while washing Kim Won-ho's hair, she commented, 'You have a lot of knots.' When Kim Won-ho replied, 'It’s quite stiff,' Seo Yea-ji couldn't hide her surprised expression and tried to correct his words, saying, 'Let's call it solid.' However, when Kim Won-ho emphasized 'stiff', she knocked his neck humorously stating, 'No, it’s solid.'
In the third corner, 'Shy Yeji-chan', she played the role of Shin Dong-kyu's girlfriend, who is shy and inexperienced in love. Seo Yea-ji displayed an innocent expression and gestures as if she knew nothing, but everything was revealed to be a lie when her ex-boyfriend appeared. Seo Yea-ji stated, 'I pretended to be pure because my ideal type is a pure girl. I have dated quite a few guys.'
The character of lying in the final corner evoked memories of the degree forgery allegations against him. At the time, the agency stated, 'Seo Yea-ji was accepted and prepared to enroll at Madrid Complutense University in Madrid, Spain. Following that, she couldn't attend college normally due to her activities in Korea.' However, there were local testimonies asserting that Seo Yea-ji never even enrolled, alongside highlights of her having lied multiple times in interviews and on broadcasts, leading to considerable controversy.
In this way, Seo Yea-ji acted in skits that directly addressed several controversies surrounding her, including the Kim Jung-hyun gaslighting scandal, the 'Kim Stiff' incident, the Kim Soo-hyun cheating rumor, and the degree forgery allegations. Seo Yea-ji shared her thoughts, saying, 'There’s a feeling in tears that come from deep inside rather than the tears shed at an award ceremony. I laughed deeply with the crew, and I’m thankful for those who came to watch even at this late hour. I think I will never forget today for the rest of my life.'
After the broadcast, viewer opinions were mixed. It’s a matter that stirred the entertainment industry, particularly noting that the Kim Jung-hyun gaslighting incident involved a victim, Seo Hyun, and thus should not be treated lightly. Conversely, since Seo Yea-ji herself addressed the cheating rumor regarding Kim Soo-hyun, many reacted positively to her mentioning the past controversies and confronting them head-on.
Meanwhile, Seo Yea-ji held her first fan meeting with fans at Seongam Art Hall in December last year. Before 'SNL Korea 7', she appeared on TV CHOSUN's 'Food Traveler Hur Young-man's Food Journey,' revealing her candid personality.
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