'After the 'award ceremony broadcast accident'... Mixed reactions to demands for an apology from Jun Hyun-moo: 'excessive' vs. 'responsibility needed'
'After the unprecedented incident of a 'name error' occurred at the 청룡시리즈어워즈, demands for an apology from broadcaster Jun Hyun-moo, who hosted the event, continue. Some are saying that the criticism directed at him is excessive, resulting in a divided public opinion.
The controversy arose during the 4th 청룡시리즈어워즈 ceremony held on the 18th at PARADISE City in Incheon. Actor Lee Jun-hyuk was called as the winner of the Popular Star Award, but actor Lee Joon-young, who has the same name, appeared on stage. Jun Hyun-moo, who was hosting the event, recognized the situation and summarized it by saying, 'It's Lee Jun-hyuk. Oh, Lee Joon-young is here as well. Lee Joon-young is also a popular star. However, this year, it was Lee Jun-hyuk who was the popular star. I should have pronounced it correctly.'
Afterwards, Lee Joon-young immediately handed over the trophy and embraced Lee Jun-hyuk, apologizing through social media by saying, 'I made a nonsensical mistake because I couldn't hear well at the scene. I am sorry to senior Lee Jun-hyuk and his fans.' Lee Jun-hyuk also said, 'Joon-young, thanks to you it was fun. Don't worry too much. Let's have a meal together next time,' creating a warm atmosphere.
However, the controversy did not end there. Some netizens criticized Jun Hyun-moo's hosting attitude, saying, 'It was a mocking tone,' and 'It was inappropriate to make the actor who made a mistake a laughingstock.' They also expressed disappointment over his explanation without an apology. Comments demanding an official apology from Jun Hyun-moo flooded his social media, with some international fans even protesting in English.
In particular, some of Lee Joon-young's fandom is demanding a clear apology from Jun Hyun-moo, stating, 'The MC's pronunciation was inaccurate, leading to misunderstanding.' Since Jun Hyun-moo mentioned that he 'should have pronounced it correctly,' they assert that he should not avoid responsibility and that a 'sincere apology' beyond mere explanation is needed.
On the contrary, there are also many voices supporting Jun Hyun-moo. They argue, 'Even after watching the recording again, he pronounced it as 'Lee Jun-hyuk' accurately,' and 'Since Lee Joon-young himself acknowledged the mistake and even apologized, why should we hold Jun Hyun-moo responsible?' There are also counters suggesting that the fandom's excessive reaction has turned what was a minor incident into a controversy. Some even evaluate that Jun Hyun-moo skillfully handled the situation as an MC.
Jun Hyun-moo has not publicly stated his position yet, but his recent activities on social media have drawn attention. He has been seen liking comments that defend him or do not question his pronunciation, leading to interpretations that 'he is expressing his unjust feelings through silence.' It remains to be seen whether Jun Hyun-moo will directly clarify his stance and put an end to the controversy, or if he will continue to navigate the situation silently.
[Photo] OSEN DB
[OSEN]