KARA's Kang Ji-young opened up about the controversy from 12 years ago.
On the 15th episode of MBC entertainment show Radio Star, actors from the film First Ride appeared. They were Kang Ha-neul, Kim Young-kwang and Kang Ji-young. Kang Ha-neul winced and closed his eyes when a scene from the drama The Heirs, which helped make his name known, was replayed.
Kang Ji-young, who said she played a part-time worker in the film, expressed gratitude, saying, "The director said he was a fan of KARA, so I gave him a signed KARA CD. When I asked what I should prepare for the character, he said I didn't have to do anything. He really accommodated me comfortably."
Kim Gook-jin asked, "You said there was another passionate fan?" The person in question was Kang Ha-neul.
Kang Ha-neul said shyly, "I was a huge fan of KARA. I was a fan since high school before they debuted. I already said I was a fan during '30 Days,' so I even got an autograph." Jang Doyoun asked, "Did you get closer?" Kang Ji-young surprised everyone by saying, "So now I am Kang Ha-neul's Japanese teacher."
Kang Ji-young's Japanese is known to be at a high level. Known as "Chie" as well, having established herself in Japan as an idol as well as a position as an actress, Kang Ji-young received film festival invitations, took on the title of actress, and proved her acting ability by playing as many as seven roles.
Kang Ha-neul expressed thanks to Kang Ji-young, saying, "Seeing her on set, she was really good at Japanese. At the wrap party I messaged asking if she could correct or teach me if I wrote Japanese in text. She really teaches well." Kang Ji-young pointed out, "But Kang Ha-neul replies way too late."
Kang Ha-neul confessed with a laugh, "I'm a poor student. I feel like a student doing workbooks. The teacher gives texts quickly, but I don't know if this is right, to be honest I get tired even while doing it."
That day Kang Ji-young opened up about the controversy from 12 years ago. Kang Ji-young said, "This is my first time appearing on Ras in 12 years. I was 19 then. The appearance overlapped with that time," and added, "I couldn't not talk about it." She said, "Actually at that time Ras was a frightening show for idols. They asked me to show aegyo and I couldn't do it and cried. The fact that I shed tears became an issue."
Although there was no reason for Kang Ji-young to perform aegyo, the MCs kept urging her to do it. Only 19 and a minor, Kang Ji-young debuted at an early age and was a socially inexperienced youth. She said, "At that time KARA was in a transitional period, contract issues were sensitive, I have a lot to say but I think I was too mature for my age then," and added, "At the time I said, 'I can't do that,'" blaming herself instead.
Kang Ji-young said, "After that I wondered what aegyo was that made me suffer, so I studied it," and added wittily in a manner befitting a 17-year veteran entertainer, "Now if someone asks me to show it, I can at least say, 'If you ask me to show it, I can show it.'"
[Photo source] MBC entertainment show Radio Star
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