In September, actress Ku Hye-sun, who announced a new start as a venture entrepreneur, expressed displeasure with a pointed criticism aimed seemingly at her ex-husband Ahn Jae-hyun, five years after their divorce. However, Ku Hye-sun's remarks faced backlash for being hypocritical, and although she provided an additional statement, the controversy has not subsided. There are now calls for her to reflect on the controversies and actions surrounding herself, beyond the criticisms directed at her ex-husband and the media.
Ku Hye-sun and Ahn Jae-hyun met through the KBS2 drama "Blood" in 2015 and married in 2016, receiving much love as a "real couple" through the show "Newlywed Diary." However, their happiness did not last long. After Ku Hye-sun's revelations in 2019 disclosed their marital discord, a fierce back-and-forth ensued, ultimately leading to their legal divorce being finalized in July 2020.
It is a fact that Ku Hye-sun and Ahn Jae-hyun were married and divorced, and the reality program documenting their newlywed life is still available on VOD. Therefore, it is inevitable that news covering either of them will mention the other, and whenever significant remarks are made on broadcasts, their names continue to be associated with the keyword 'divorce.'
On the 8th, Ku Hye-sun expressed her dissatisfaction towards the media and her ex-husband Ahn Jae-hyun through her social media account. She stated that it is "not correct journalistic ethics" for the media to plaster "5 years since the divorce" as a headline and stigmatize her, adding that the continued indirect references and remarks that can be inferred to herself, as an industry colleague, despite the divorce process with her former spouse being very unpleasant, are cowardly. She also appealed by stating that "no one in this world has the right to mock me, the person involved, to provide enjoyment to the public."
However, Ku Hye-sun's pointed criticism did not resonate with the public and faced backlash for being hypocritical. Ahn Jae-hyun recently mentioned on KBS2's reality show "Heart on Wheels" that "being alone these days is lonely," but he did not make any direct remarks about the divorce, while it was also brought to light that in the past, Ku Hye-sun herself had indirectly referred to the divorce and new love during a variety show. Some netizens expressed sorrow for Ahn Jae-hyun, saying it felt like he had been caught off guard, and pointed out the hypocrisy, asking, "Why can Ku Hye-sun do it, but Ahn Jae-hyun cannot?"
In response to the ongoing controversy, Ku Hye-sun released an additional statement, saying, "This writing pertains to situations that arose after an agreement with my former spouse," and expressed regret over reports that obscure the arguments prior to the agreement. However, despite her clarification, criticism continues regarding the attitude that seems to define one party's statements as 'sincere' and the other's remarks as 'secondary harm.'
Moreover, just a day after Ku Hye-sun found herself at the center of the controversy, she established the venture corporation "Studio Ku Hye-sun Inc." and announced the launch of a patented hair roller product, which further fueled the controversy. The timing of her announcement regarding her career achievements coinciding with actions seemingly aimed at her ex-husband led to speculation that it might be noise marketing.
It is evident that both Ku Hye-sun and Ahn Jae-hyun are victims of having their pasts summoned and consumed in an unwanted manner. As Ku Hye-sun stated, there is no right to mock someone for the sake of public enjoyment. She must also recognize that her actions can lead to further controversies and wounds, and it is time for her to reflect on the necessity of showing maturity through actions rather than words.
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