Actors Kim Seung-hyun and broadcast writer Jang Jeong-yoon, a married couple, drew sympathy as they suffered from everything from sensational shorts calling them "poverty sellers" to malicious comments crossing the line about the appearance of their second daughter, who is not even 2 years old.
On the 5th, Kim Seung-hyun and Jang Jeong-yoon uploaded a video titled "The Kim Seung-hyun family suffering from malicious commenters and short-form content thieves" to their YouTube channel Gwangsan Kim family. The released video contained the couple confessing their difficulties caused by articles derived from their recently released YouTube content, sensational shorts about it, and the resulting malicious comments.
The criticism directed at the Kim Seung-hyun couple began with the term "poverty sellers." Kim Seung-hyun has not been able to appear in dramas since the SBS drama Bulsae 2020 ended in 2021. His mother and other family members had previously shown skits on YouTube and lamented, "He acts so well, so why are there no projects (dramas)?" As a result, the label "an actor with no work for five years" had followed him. In that context, sensational shorts spreading fake-news-like claims that it was difficult even to earn powdered milk money appeared.
As a result, recently Kim Seung-hyun introduced a secondary character called "Bonjour Kim," who drew a caricature of his mother and even used AI to read faces, and false claims spread saying things like "He became a physiognomist because he can't make money." Kim Seung-hyun protested his frustration with a joking remark, "I only meet people with good faces." Jang Jeong-yoon also appealed, "I know how diligent and hardworking my husband is. But being treated as if he just stays at home and does nothing is very painful."
In reality, Kim Seung-hyun simply had not appeared in a drama for five years, but he appeared on many variety shows and updated fans on his activities. He also runs his own YouTube channel Gwangsan Kim family with his family, and as an entertainer he was invited to various events. Earlier, Kim Seung-hyun himself said on YouTube that he had no worries about making a living and declared, "Don't worry about entertainers."
Of course, Kim Seung-hyun did go through difficult times in the past. As a young single father he experienced financially hard moments, and he confessed this on the KBS 2TV variety show Mr. House Husband. But that is not the case now. Jang Jeong-yoon emphasized, "We are living without financial shortages. Kim Seung-hyun earns money by doing events and so on, but people talk as if he doesn't earn any money at all," and added, "I've seen comments like 'don't play up poverty,' but we have never done that. We have no intention of playing up poverty." Above all, Jang Jeong-yoon added to the sadness by confessing that her father, who was mistaken because of sensational shorts, even contacted her asking, "Is Seung-hyun having a hard time these days?"
Malicious comments went beyond misinformation and did not spare adults. Jang Jeong-yoon mentioned a comment among the malicious remarks that said, "They say daughters resemble their fathers, so why doesn't the second daughter resemble her father?" and made a stunned expression. Kim Seung-hyun also gave a wry smile as if at a loss for words. Jang Jeong-yoon forcefully said, "So mothers are not allowed to resemble them?" as she exposed the thoughtless malicious comments aimed at their second daughter, who is only 21 months old.
In addition, there were personal-attack malicious comments insulting Jang Jeong-yoon, who is three years younger than Kim Seung-hyun, claiming she is in her 50s or that people thought she was older. These boundary-crossing remarks were repeatedly cited, causing shock. Nevertheless, Kim Seung-hyun said, "There are still many people who have prejudices because of variety shows or my existing image, but I think as I get older I will become more serious and be able to play a variety of roles," and added, "My family is very healthy and Riyun (the second daughter) is growing so well that I'm happy. I think things will go well in the future. If the family is harmonious, personal matters will also work out," reaffirming his resolve.
[Photo] OSEN DB, YouTube source.
[OSEN]