Actor Go Seung-hwan has become embroiled in an unexpected controversy. He was caught up in speculation about being wealthy due to his father's property ownership, but when he clarified that it was not the case, he faced accusations of pretending to be poor because he did not disclose a gift. The situation has even raised questions about the legitimacy of his appearance on "Home Alone." Despite his explanations, the recurring controversy is bittersweet.
Go Seung-hwan disclosed his recent activities on the MBC entertainment program "Home Alone," which aired on the 8th. His recent update, where he shared his romantic life in a rooftop villa with his dog Kkot-bun, delighted the viewers of "Home Alone."
In particular, he expressed his concerns and garnered empathy by revealing damage caused by a leak due to heavy rainfall on "Home Alone." In response, Go Seung-hwan personally checked the leak on the roof and conducted waterproofing repairs as well as redecorated the living room.
However, some viewers expressed concern about Go Seung-hwan directly handling the waterproofing without asking the landlord to take care of the leak. In response, Go Seung-hwan spoke up after receiving inquiries via social media, revealing that the villa where he resides was owned by his father and that he had received it as a gift.
In connection to this, on the 12th, Go Seung-hwan posted a video on his personal YouTube channel saying, "Many have asked in the comments, 'Why don't you let the landlord handle the roof epoxy? Why are you doing it?' This issue has drawn controversy every time I appear on the show, regarding the landlord, the number of buildings, and so on. I won't discuss this anymore as this is the first and last time."
He also explained, "This part of the building does belong to my father. And on the other side, I received a gift approximately in 2021 or 2022. Naturally, I paid all the gift tax. However, I found it awkward to share my personal story or background when appearing on broadcast, so I glossed over it, not realizing it would escalate like this." He added, "My father is a national merit recipient, and he had to undergo gamma therapy for brain issues, resulting in sudden dementia. Consequently, my father gifted me half of a multi-family building."
However, regarding the suspicion that he was "pretending to be poor," Go Seung-hwan asserted, "I have never pretended to be poor on any broadcast. Why would I?" expressing his grievance. He even revealed specifics about the living space, noting that the actual living area was 18 pyeong, and including external areas it was 20 pyeong, emphasizing that he consistently pays rent to his father at the end of each month.
This is not the first time Go Seung-hwan has been caught in misunderstandings. He had previously faced accusations not only of wealth during his less known days but also of being affluent to the extent of 'chaebol speculation'. As news broke that the villa he resides in is under his father's name, he was subjected to various rumors like "His father is the landlord," "It's not just one building," and "A close friend, Lee Joo-seung, used to live in a villa owned by Go Seung-hwan's father."
However, all of these claims turned out to be false. Go Seung-hwan, who began gaining attention through his appearances on "Home Alone," clarified these suspicions when he appeared as a guest on tvN's entertainment show "You Quiz on the Block" in February. At that time, he revealed, "My father was an employee working at a small company. He worked his whole life to own a small villa in Gangdong-gu, Seoul. He is not in a position to support me."
Now, criticisms have arisen suggesting that he was "pretending to be poor" regarding the scale of his real estate holdings. In just six months, Go Seung-hwan has found himself oscillating between claims of being wealthy and accusations of feigning poverty, making his decision to clarify through YouTube understandable.
The issue is that even with Go Seung-hwan's explanations, critical perspectives about his potential participation in "Home Alone" have emerged. Being a flagship program of MBC, "Home Alone" has ignited various discussions in terms of its cast composition. In the early days of the program, viewers reminisced about the rooftop vibes of singer Hwang Chi-yeol and musician Yang Jung-wan, while the daily lives of fixed members such as Jun Hyun-moo and Park Na-rae, showcasing luxurious apartments or detached houses in affluent neighborhoods like Gangnam, Itaewon, and Cheongdam-dong, have been criticized for inducing relative deprivation.
Considering this, the "Home Alone" production team strives to achieve balance by showcasing the everyday lives of individuals like Kian84, who, despite owning real estate worth approximately 6 billion won, maintains a humble demeanor, or Kim Dae-ho, who opened a 'ho-jang-ma-cha' (a mobile food stall) in the rocks of a hillside after spending all his severance pay from MBC, and actress Lee Yoo-jin, who realizes her own romance even in a semi-basement near her family home. Go Seung-hwan, who showcased a humble life through his rooftop villa, is also a similar case.
"What is revealed through a program like 'Home Alone' is the aspect of lifestyle, not the scale or way assets are formed. 'Home Alone' is not an educational program that teaches methods of wealth management, nor do viewers have the right to demand participants reveal their asset scale, which is a deeply personal matter."
Given the nature of the property boom in Korea, it is impossible to prevent a culture where one can learn about others' living arrangements and ownership simply through a search. However, can we criticize someone merely because their private life is revealed for no reason other than an absence of necessity to disclose the truth? It feels overly cruel for Go Seung-hwan, who has only now shed his obscurity through 'Home Alone.'
[Photo] OSEN DB, provided by tvN.
[OSEN]