Singer and musical actor Ok Joo Hyun communicated with fans and poured out all the feelings she had been holding back. In particular, as the "Ok jangpan incident" resurfaced after four years and controversy grew, she revealed the reason she had no choice but to speak out.
On the 7th Ok Joo Hyun told Xportsnews in an interview, "For many years I have tried to show the best efforts and the best performance I can in the genre of musical. But for a moment I was trapped in the frame called Ok jangpan and it became controversial every time I worked on a piece," she said, pouring out her bottled-up feelings.
Earlier, while talking with fans on a fan communication platform, Ok Joo Hyun recalled the "Ok jangpan incident," saying, "Ah, I laughed out loud. I had forgotten about Ok jangpan. A friend's father posted the floor covering to promote it, they say."
The Ok jangpan incident began in June 2022 when Kim Ho Young posted on his social media, "Asaripan is an old saying. Now it's Ok jangpan." At the time, ahead of the 10th anniversary performance of the musical "Elisabeth," Lee Ji Hye, from the same agency as Ok Joo Hyun, was double cast and Kim So Hyun, who had participated in previous seasons, was left out, sparking controversy that Kim Ho Young might have been targeting this situation.
In response, Ok Joo Hyun sued Kim Ho Young for defamation, but when a joint statement from first-generation musical actors escalated the matter, Ok Joo Hyun withdrew the lawsuit against Kim Ho Young and the case was closed.
When a fan expressed concern about the Ok jangpan incident being brought up again after four years, Ok Joo Hyun said, "Why is it dangerous? It's not a lie or a crime. I have never received an apology, and I heard those words along with 'thank you for withdrawing the lawsuit,'" and added, "What I most regret after that is withdrawing the lawsuit."
Regarding this, Ok Joo Hyun explained in an interview, "I was so distressed by the Ok jangpan image and frame that should not have been attached to me. I also had to witness the pain of my junior (Lee Ji Hye). Although I was cast for my ability, I did not receive congratulations and wiped my days away with tears."
Ok Joo Hyun also added, "Wouldn't production companies also struggle if a work drew attention for issues other than the play itself? For four years, every time I joined a production it caused harm to the production. I wanted productions to start without controversy caused by me, so because I didn't want to harm a production, this time I went as far as deciding not to appear in a work for everyone."
However, regarding Kim Ho Young, Ok Joo Hyun emphasized, "He has been in the musical world longer than I have and is a musical person who loves musicals. As the person who caused this commotion, whether an excuse or the truth, I think he needs to explain himself honestly at least once."
[Photo] OSEN DB
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