Actor Kim Bin-woo shared that she has left Korea following a series of controversies.
On the 2nd, Kim Bin-woo announced her move to Bali on her social account, saying, "It took a year to worry, experience, decide and prepare." The video released with the announcement showed Kim Bin-woo having a serious conversation with her husband about the move. She also posted photos capturing the view of her home before moving out.
Kim Bin-woo's move to Bali comes about two months after the 'two-hit controversy.' Earlier this May, she faced heavy public criticism over upstairs-downstairs noise. At the time, during a TikTok live at 1 a.m., she was seen wearing flashy light-up glasses, playing loud music, holding a microphone while singing and dancing. A netizen asked, "Is this an apartment?" but Kim Bin-woo reportedly replied, "I'm on the first floor, you know?"
The footage spread through online communities and social media and escalated into a downstairs-upstairs noise controversy. Even if one lives on the first floor, noise can travel through walls and pillars to neighboring units above or beside, and during quiet early morning hours even small noises sound loud, leading many to express discomfort at Kim Bin-woo's inconsiderate behavior. Ultimately, Kim Bin-woo apologized, saying, "I am deeply reflecting on my thoughtless actions. I will be more careful from now on. I'm sorry."
A month later in June she drew more criticism after uploading a video of herself dancing while driving. She was shown with one leg folded up on the seat while sitting in the driver's seat, and at times dancing while holding the steering wheel with one hand, creating a risky situation. She also looked at the camera filming the video despite being behind the wheel. The act was clearly negligence in paying attention to the road while driving, and critics warned it could have led to a traffic accident.
Afterward, Kim Bin-woo deleted the video and expressed her feelings, saying, "Something evil is coming out of my body. Why do people expend unnecessary energy hating others like this?"
Kim Bin-woo already had a negative public image from a 2007 cutting-in-line controversy. At the time, she entered the middle of a waiting line in the standing section at a Christina Aguilera concert, and when other audience members protested she explained, "I didn't cut in line; I joined the group that was standing in front." When the controversy continued, her agency apologized on her behalf, saying, "I'm sorry if I disturbed anyone watching the performance. I also went simply as a fan of Aguilera. I did not act out of a sense of privilege to watch from the front because I'm a celebrity. I have resolved the misunderstanding with the person I argued with. I'm embarrassed that this has grown so large. But if I made anyone feel bad, I'm truly sorry. It happened unintentionally. I apologize."
Amid these incidents and continuing public criticism for actions that disregarded public order and regulations, Kim Bin-woo ultimately decided to move to Bali for a fresh start.
She wrote, "It wasn't an easy decision, but before we get any older and while the children are still in our arms, we want to try a new challenge. We're moving to Bali soon. There are still countless things to prepare, but during the remaining time we'll work hard to empty and share, and with light hearts we'll give it our best," adding hashtags such as "#family #preparinganewstart." Fans supported her new start, while some still view her coldly.
Kim Bin-woo debuted in 2003 through the MBC drama theater 'Are you still dreaming?' and appeared in dramas such as 'Phoenix,' 'My Golden Child,' 'Stranger than Heaven,' 'Kid Gang,' 'Three Dads One Mom,' 'I Fell for You,' 'Mom is Pretty Too,' 'Suspicious Family,' 'You're Amazing,' 'Fantasy Tower' and the film 'Manhole.' However, after the 2015 MBC drama 'Indomitable Mrs. Cha' she paused activities due to marriage and childbirth. Married in 2015 and the mother of one son and one daughter, Kim Bin-woo has occasionally appeared on family variety shows such as 'The Taste of Wife,' 'Dad and Me,' and 'Study and Play' since 2019, but has effectively stopped pursuing acting projects.
[photo] OSEN DB, Kim Bin-woo SNS
[OSEN]