Actor Koo Seung-hwan has directly clarified the 'building owner controversy', but opinions remain divided online.
Koo Seung-hwan debuted in the 2004 film 'Low Life' and gained significant acclaim last year for his down-to-earth and relaxed 'Goo-jo' character in MBC's 'Home Alone'. He has been loved by viewers for his friendly appearance, managing a modest life with his pet dog Kkot-bun in a rooftop villa in Gangdong-gu, applying sunscreen, enjoying generous meals, and doing self-interior decoration.
Recently, a scene showing him directly repairing water damage caused by heavy rain was aired. Viewers were surprised by his self-sufficiency in solving issues from roof waterproofing to wallpapering in the bedroom, but some questioned, 'Why do it yourself instead of entrusting it to the landlord?'
In response, Koo Seung-hwan spoke out on his YouTube channel on the 12th regarding this matter.
He explained, 'Every time I appear on the show, I keep getting asked how many buildings I own. This building indeed belongs to my father, and I received the other half as a gift between 2021 and 2022. I have paid all the gift tax.' He noted that, 'My father is a national merit recipient, but after undergoing gamma treatment, he developed dementia, and due to his deteriorating health, I ended up taking over the building management duties.'
He also emphasized, 'I have never pretended to be poor on the show, and I pay my father the rent regularly at the end of each month.' Regarding the reason why he hadn't mentioned this before, he added, 'I had my reasons for being ambiguous about sharing my personal life on air. But I never expected this to escalate, and I have never pretended to be poor; the building area is about 60 square meters, that's a fact.'
Koo Seung-hwan particularly expressed his frustration by saying, 'The most ridiculous part is the claim that I'm pretending to be poor. Why should I? I'm happy living comfortably while using what I need and eating well during filming.'
However, even after his clarification, the online reaction remains mixed.
Some internet users have sent messages of support, stating, 'The courage to openly acknowledge this is impressive,' 'It's not pretending to be poor; it's just keeping family circumstances private,' and 'I can fully understand this.'
In contrast, other internet users have expressed critical views, saying, 'Isn't this an image strategy?' and 'If it had been disclosed from the beginning, there wouldn't have been a controversy,' and 'The honesty came a bit too late.'
Separate from the controversy, the unembellished daily life Koo Seung-hwan showcased on 'Home Alone' and his bond with his pet dog Kkot-bun continue to receive great appreciation from viewers.
[Photo] Broadcast capture, OSEN DB
[OSEN]