Actor Gong Hyung-jin apologises after criticism of remarks to Cha Ji-yeon at event
In short
Actor Gong Hyung-jin (공형진) drew online criticism over informal and belittling remarks to fellow host Cha Ji-yeon (차지연) at a special performance at Hanyang University in Seoul on 17 October. On 19 October his agency, K-Heart Entertainment (케이하트엔터테인먼트), said he had meant to put her at ease and apologised.
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Actor Gong Hyung-jin (공형진) drew criticism over remarks to musical actor Cha Ji-yeon (차지연) while the two co-hosted the middle section of a special performance at the 'Far East Broadcasting (극동방송) 70th anniversary Homecoming Day' at Hanyang University in Seoul on 17 October. Newsis, Maeil Business and Hankook Ilbo reported on 19 October that he had behaved inappropriately toward a junior at an official event. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
According to the reports, Cha bowed and greeted him with 'Hello, senior.' Gong said she should greet him again because he was the senior, and she bowed again. When Cha's name and photo appeared on the screen behind them, he said: 'Why isn't my photo there? I'm much more senior than her.' Chosun Ilbo and Korea Economic Daily reported that Cha apologised, and that Gong moved on by saying 'because she's the one of the moment.' [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
Hankook Ilbo and Korea Economic Daily reported that when Cha introduced the next performance and said the sun was setting, Gong asked 'Why are you acting? Do it like usual.' They also reported that he cut in with 'This was originally my line, she did it herself. But today Cha Ji-yeon is the lead, so I'll let it go.' Chosun Ilbo reported that he called 'Cut, cut' as she sang. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
Video of the scenes spread online, including on YouTube. Newsis and Seoul Shinmun reported criticism that, whatever their private closeness, he belittled and was rude to a co-host on a public stage. Chosun Ilbo and Korea Economic Daily quoted a fan who said the exchange was uncomfortable to watch, and Korea Economic Daily said some netizens thought Gong had been using jokes to loosen the mood. Chosun Ilbo said it cannot be determined how close the two are or what they meant, and that it was not confirmed that Cha had publicly expressed discomfort. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 11 ]
On 19 October Gong's agency, K-Heart Entertainment (케이하트엔터테인먼트), issued a statement. It said Gong had spoken to Cha, a junior with whom he is on friendly terms, so that she would not be nervous and could take part comfortably, and had not meant to embarrass or offend her. It said the exchange had been conveyed differently from its intent, causing misunderstanding, and that an apology had already been made to Cha's side and to everyone who felt offended. [ 7 , 10 , 11 ]
The agency also said Gong would be deeply sorry if his words made viewers or fans uncomfortable. It said that even in a friendly mood, consideration for the other person comes first at a public event, and that it hoped the matter would not be over-interpreted and would end in mutual understanding. It added that Gong would try to be more careful in his public remarks. Newsis, Korea Economic Daily, Maeil Business, Chosun Ilbo and Seoul Shinmun reported the apology that evening or the next morning, and Hankook Ilbo's headline on 20 October also reported it. [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]
Why it matters
The documents show Korean outlets treating the exchange as a question of how a senior performer should behave toward a co-host at a public event. The agency's statement says the matter should be resolved with mutual understanding, and no document reports a response from Cha.
Key facts
- Gong Hyung-jin and musical actor Cha Ji-yeon were co-hosts for the middle section of a special performance at the 'Far East Broadcasting (극동방송) 70th anniversary Homecoming Day' at Hanyang University in Seoul on 17 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 , 11 ]
- When Cha bowed and greeted him, Gong told her to greet him again because he was the senior, and she bowed a second time. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 11 ]
- Seeing Cha's name and photo on the stage screen, Gong said: 'Why isn't my photo there? I'm much more senior than her.' [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Outlets reported that Gong used informal speech and said 'Why are you acting?' and 'This was originally my line, she did it herself' while Cha was introducing the next performance. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- A video of the scenes spread online, and critics said he treated a co-host rudely on a public stage regardless of private closeness. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 11 ]
- On 19 October K-Heart Entertainment said Gong had meant to help Cha relax, had no intention of embarrassing or offending her, and had already conveyed an apology to her side. [ 7 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Gong made the remarks while co-hosting with Cha on 17 October, including asking her to greet him again because he was senior. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 11 ]
- Gong's agency, K-Heart Entertainment, issued a statement on 19 October apologising to those who felt offended and saying it had already expressed apology to Cha's side. [ 7 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]
- Online criticism followed after video of the event spread. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 11 ]
Still unclear
- How Cha Ji-yeon responded. One outlet said it was not confirmed that Cha had publicly expressed discomfort; the agency said it had apologised to her side, and no document reports her reaction.
- Whether Gong's remarks were meant as friendly joking. The agency said they were meant to put Cha at ease and were misread, and some netizens saw them as jokes to lighten the mood. Others criticised them as inappropriate for a public event, and one outlet said how close the two are and what they intended cannot be determined.
- Whether the event was Gong's return to the stage after seven years. Only the headline of one outlet says this; another outlet says only that he had hosted an official event after a long time.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Gong and Cha co-host the middle section of the special performance at Hanyang University; no document gives the time. [ 1 , 4 , 11 ]
- On 19 October Newsis reports the controversy over Gong's remarks. [ 1 ]
- On 19 October Newsis reports that Gong apologised through his agency. [ 7 ]
- On 19 October Maeil Business reports the agency's statement. [ 9 ]
- On 20 October Seoul Shinmun publishes the full text of the agency's statement. [ 11 ]