Actor Lee Jang-woo's remark, upon hearing Ham Eun-jung's marriage news, I thought she was pregnant, has been revealed and is sparking heated controversy online. Ham Eun-jung replied wittily, but among viewers criticism that the broadcast crossed the line and defenses that such banter is possible because they are close are sharply divided.
On the 16th, the YouTube channel "Ham Eun-jung" released a video titled "We got married (separately) (feat. friendship couple Lee Jang-woo)." The two, who paired as a virtual couple on MBC's "We Got Married" in 2011, reunited after 14 years at the jokbal restaurant where they first met.
Lee Jang-woo recalled the moment he first heard Ham Eun-jung's marriage news. "My mother told me first. At the beginning, the director and you didn't seem well matched, so I thought 'it must be a mistake.' Then I wondered, 'could she be pregnant?' I talked with my mother saying, 'I guess Eun-jung is pregnant.'" He added, "I've worked 20 years, so now I should do something good for the country. Have a lot of kids too," further fueling controversy.
Despite such 'suspicion of premarital pregnancy' remarks, Ham Eun-jung calmly clarified the situation. "That fortune hasn't come that early yet. I'm shooting a drama until July next year. If it went past this year, I couldn't postpone the wedding any longer," she said. She then honestly spoke about concerns over late childbirth, explaining the background that led to the hurried decision on the wedding timing.
But netizens who watched the video were sharply divided into two main reactions. "No matter how close they are, there are things you can and cannot say on a broadcast." "Jokes about pregnancy these days are effectively sexual harassment." "Statements pressuring women to give birth were very unpleasant." "Ham Eun-jung laughed it off, but viewers feel uncomfortable." On the other hand, "They've been close for over 10 years. If she felt bad, it would have been edited out." "Because it's Ham Eun-jung's channel and it aired as is, it means the two are that close." "It's a joke only close friends can make."
Overall, however, criticism that it was inappropriate to make such comments in a public video is somewhat prevailing.
Meanwhile, Lee Jang-woo will marry actress Jo Hye-won on the 23rd. Ham Eun-jung will ring the wedding bell on the 30th with director Kim Byung-woo, who directed the films The Terror Live and Omniscient Reader: The Prophet. Both weddings will be held privately.
[Photo] 'OSEN DB, YouTube
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