Former announcer Han Sung-joo, who stopped her activities and disappeared from the broadcasting industry due to a private video leak incident with a lover in 2011, was spotted at an official event for the first time in 14 years. This time, she attended an event at her alma mater alongside 'figure skating queen' Kim Yuna, drawing public interest.
Recently, Han posted a photo on her personal TikTok account with the caption, "Proud of athlete Kim Yuna, together with my junior~~." The published photo captured the two of them standing side by side at the 120th anniversary event of Korea University. Dressed in modern black suits, Han Sung-joo and Kim Yuna were smiling brightly, their hands gracefully clasped as they looked at the camera.
Han expressed her affection for junior Kim Yuna, saying, "She is always amazing, admirable, and makes me proud."
It is not the first time his name has resurfaced in the public eye. Starting in 2023, Han cautiously began her TikTok activities under the name 'Esther' instead of 'Han Sung-joo.' While sharing her daily life with her pet dog, golf, riding, and hobbies, she revealed relatively calm personal life but still showed caution about a full return to broadcasting.
Han entered the entertainment industry by winning the Miss Korea title in 1994, debuted as an actress in 1995, and joined SBS as an announcer in 1996. Active in various fields, including news, entertainment, and educational programs, she married in 1999 but divorced after 10 months. After continuing her active career, she was effectively ousted from the broadcasting industry in 2011 due to the online leak of a private video with a lover.
Afterward, he resumed studying horticultural therapy, which he had paused for a while, and obtained a doctoral degree in horticultural therapy from the Graduate School of Health Sciences at Dankook University. In 2019, news emerged that he was working as a horticultural therapy specialist at a university hospital.
Recently, a netizen commented on Han's SNS, saying, "It must have been a greater wound because you are a celebrity, thank you for enduring it." In response, Han said, "Thank you for your words. Sometimes, pretending not to notice can also be a different form of support."
On the other hand, some malicious comments were met with her resolute response, saying, "If they were a person of some decorum, they wouldn't act like that," and "Is this a source of pride? How commendable to take time for this."
Last year, Han also captured attention as part of the cheering squad 'Roar 93' for the 2023 regular Korea University- Yonsei University friendly match rugby game, marking the 30th anniversary of her entrance to Korea University.
The phrase she shared, 'please pretend you don't know' while revealing a photo with Kim Yuna, reflects the reality of living under ongoing public attention, stemming from an incident 14 years ago that kept her out of the public eye for a long time. At the same time, it seems to convey a desire for support and comfort in her own way.
[Photo] Han Sung-joo SNS
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