Shin Jeong-hwan's frankness sparks controversy..mixed reactions to Lee Sang Min being named "an outpouring of grievance" vs "should have been more cautious"
[OSEN]As broadcaster Lee Sang Min reaches a turning point in his life, Shin Jeong-hwan has once again become the center of controversy after unexpectedly invoking a name.
Lee Sang Min, after being long consumed by a 'debtor image,' settled all his debt and made a fresh start by registering his marriage with a younger non-celebrity woman on Apr. 10 this year. In addition, he drew attention after winning the grand prize at the SBS Entertainment Awards last December, writing a reversal in his life story.
However, before the joy of the award had fully faded, a settlement controversy related to his past group Roolla resurfaced. The trigger was remarks by singer and broadcaster Shin Jeong-hwan.
Shin Jeong-hwan recently appeared on the YouTube content 'B-grade hearing' and, while sharing the behind-the-scenes of forming Country Kkokko, mentioned past settlement issues. He said, "Although Roolla seemed to do well, I never properly received settlements," and "I received 1.2 million won every five years," and at the time the producer name Lee Sang Min was mentioned, spreading the controversy.
When those remarks were reported, Lee Sang Min directly rebutted, saying, "It is as if I'm being misunderstood as someone who didn't settle accounts." On social media he used the hashtags #correction #factcheck and said, "I was also a singer under the agency. Who would I be settling for? All members were settled equally," adding, "I am not Roolla's boss," as he voiced his grievance.
Public opinion split into two camps in the process. Some reacted in understanding of his remarks, saying, "How wronged would Shin Jeong-hwan have to be to speak so frankly," and "He only spoke about the reality he experienced from his perspective." In particular, an interpretation emerged that "it was merely a story that came up while explaining his past in the process of a comeback and was likely not intended to attack a specific person."
On the other hand, criticism continued that "naming someone should have been more cautious," "it caused unnecessary misunderstanding for Lee Sang Min right after his award win," and "personal YouTube remarks can create another wound." In particular, there were repeated points that "regardless of the truth, he should have considered the weight of making public remarks."
In a recent interview with OSEN, Shin Jeong-hwan emphasized, "I have been working continuously, not making a comeback," and revealed plans to launch a new web entertainment show through his personal YouTube channel. Also, a reunion with Tak Jae-Hoon after eight years was announced to draw interest, but that content's upload has been postponed due to schedule adjustments.
As a result, this controversy is placed at the point where views diverge between an "honest outpouring of grievance" and "responsibility for public remarks." Debate over whether Shin Jeong-hwan's remarks were a confession of personal experience or a naming attack that placed additional burden on another person has not easily subsided.
What is clear, however, is that both Shin Jeong-hwan and Lee Sang Min expressed their grievances in their own ways, and in the process the shadow of the past is once again shaking the present. Public opinion is divided, but this controversy again raises questions about the boundary between a celebrity's "frankness" and "caution".
[Photo] SNS, OSEN DB, YouTube