The conflict between actors Ok Joo Hyun and Kim Ho Young, which shook the musical community in what was dubbed the 'okjangpan incident,' has flared up again after four years. As Ok Joo Hyun voiced lingering wounds in a lengthy post, the 'statement by first-generation actors' that spread across the musical world at the time has once again drawn public attention.
Ok Joo Hyun posted a lengthy personal statement on her social media early on the 8th, saying, "It took a long time to write this." She said that during the past controversy she thought staying silent and pretending to be fine was the best course, but that, regardless of her intentions, the word 'okjangpan' followed her like a label and she had to endure long periods of suspicion, ridicule and criticism.
In particular, Ok Joo Hyun said the controversy did not remain a simple incident but actually damaged her image, advertisements and work activities. She wrote, "There were times I ultimately decided to leave a production for the sake of everyone," and added, "If those words really were not directed at me, why did so many people think of me, and why was the damage and hurt caused by that never once explained publicly?" This has led to speculation that she was effectively demanding a direct explanation and apology from Kim Ho Young, who sparked the controversy.
The root of the controversy goes back to the time in 2022 when the casting lineup for the 10th anniversary performance of the musical Elisabeth was announced. At the time, some fans questioned the casting, and Kim Ho Young posted on his social media, "Asaripan is an old term. Now it's okjangpan," along with a photo of an okjangpan, which caused an uproar because the word 'okjangpan' naturally evoked Ok Joo Hyun.
In response, Ok Joo Hyun said she would sue those who caused the rude speculation and rampant conjecture, filing defamation suits against Kim Ho Young and malicious commenters. Kim Ho Young's side also responded, saying, "We regret that the actor's honor was tarnished and will respond strongly," and the conflict escalated into legal battles. Later, Ok Joo Hyun withdrew the suit through mediation by seniors, but the frame did not disappear and has reignited now, four years later.
Along with Ok Joo Hyun's emotional confession, the statement issued at the time by leading figures in the musical community is being revisited. At the height of the conflict in 2022, first-generation musical artists such as Nam Kyung Joo, Choi Jung Won and Park Kal Lin issued a statement titled "an appeal to all musical people."
They said, "We cannot hide our sorrow over the recent lawsuits in the musical community," and pointed out, "this situation arose because the right path has been broken." The statement said actors should focus on their primary duty of acting and should not infringe on producers' exclusive rights such as casting, and it also criticized producers to create fair environments. At the time, the statement was interpreted as leaning toward Kim Ho Young rather than Ok Joo Hyun, who had sued a fellow actor, and caused a major stir.
Amid Ok Joo Hyun's sharp demand for an explanation, Kim Ho Young posted a short message reading "NY" on his social media and shared recent photos enjoying a leisurely life in New York, U.S. He has shown a 'my way' approach without making special remarks about Ok Joo Hyun's pointed statement-interview.
As the 'okjangpan incident' between the two resurfaced after four years and public attention focused on the chronic conflict narrative in the musical world surrounding it, whether Kim Ho Young will respond this time to Ok Joo Hyun's demand for an explanation is drawing attention.<
[Photo] OSEN DB, video capture, Kim Ho Young SNS
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