Comedian Kim Joon-hyun has been embroiled in an unexpected controversy over his attitude. The trigger was a roughly 20-second morning-arrival video.
Recently, a video showing Kim Joon-hyun arriving at the broadcaster has been spreading on online communities. The video is known to show the scene on June 10 when he visited the broadcaster to record KBS2 The Seasons - 10cm's "Ssedam Ssedam."
In the video, Kim Joon-hyun, under an umbrella held by his manager in bad weather, was checking his cellphone as he entered the building. At the entrance, fans who were filming offered encouragement such as "Hello" and "Kim Joon-hyun, fighting," but he passed by with a blank expression.
Meanwhile, when he met broadcasting staff inside the building, he smiled brightly, bowed his waist in greeting, and was even seen shaking hands. Some netizens criticized this, saying, "A blank face for fans, accommodating to officials," and asked whether it was an example of "strong-weak-weak-strong." Comments also followed that his being escorted by a manager was "different from his down-to-earth image."
However, there are also many counterarguments that this is excessive "nitpicking." They say it is unreasonable to judge the whole situation from a short video.
In fact, some internet users argued that Kim Joon-hyun seemed to lower his head slightly as if greeting, and pointed out that "we should be cautious about enlarging and interpreting a moment."
Ultimately, this controversy is divided between the "visible scene" and the "difference in interpretation."
Also, Kim Joon-hyun's past remarks are being reexamined in connection with this incident.
He left ComedyTV's "Delicious Guys" in July 2021, saying he "wanted to put down familiar things and reorganize," but when he later returned, he offered candid self-reflection.
At the production presentation for "THE Delicious Guys" held in June 2024, he confessed, "At that time I had an obsession that I had to do something new. It was really the wrong thinking." He added, "I was arrogant and that time was embarrassing," and bowed his head, saying, "I realized I should be grateful for what I can continue."
Because Kim Joon-hyun was someone who could look back on his choices and acknowledge them, this controversy leaves more regret.
Kim Joon-hyun is currently appearing on KBS2's "Immortal Songs" and ComedyTV's "Delicious Guys."
The impact of the 20-second video is not small. However, whether that scene is everything or whether there is another context seems to require a calmer perspective.
[Photo] OSEN DB, "Delicious Guys"
[OSEN]