On December 30, Jeon Jong-seo posted several photos on her Instagram with the caption, “Filming again today…“
In the selfies, she posed inside a car wearing a white sleeveless top paired with a bolero, her hand resting on her cheek, exuding a somewhat fatigued appearance.
The post that was released along with this included a thought-provoking image with a caption that read “I know you’re tired of loving, or not having anyone to love. If the real one catches you, you’ll drown. You won’t be able to help but fall in love“, further fueling curiosity among fans.
Her posts sparked controversy among netizens due to the timing. The government had declared a national mourning period from December 30 to January 4, following the December 29 crash of Jeju Air flight 7C2216 from Bangkok. The plane crashed into a runway barrier at Muan International Airport during landing, causing a fire. Tragically, 179 of the 181 people onboard, excluding two crew members, lost their lives. In light of the tragedy, South Korea’s three major broadcasters canceled all year-end award shows and suspended entertainment programs. Many celebrities and public figures have joined the mourning by sharing condolence messages through SNS.
Some criticized Jeon Jong-seo for sharing personal posts during the mourning period. Comments included, “A tragedy happened in Korea. At the very least, she could have expressed her condolences“, “Posting something like this when everyone is grieving? She should have been more considerate” and “Out of all the Korean celebrities I follow, she’s the only one who posted about her daily life. I even checked the timestamp because I couldn’t believe it. While mourning shouldn’t be forced, I can’t help but feel disappointed as a long-time fan.”
However, others defended her, arguing for freedom of expression, “Because of people like you, freedom of expression is dying. Does everything that upsets you have to be canceled? Should art and music be hidden from the world just because you feel bad?” and “Stop nitpicking over trivial things.“
The debate continued, and Jeon Jong-seo ultimately deleted the post.
Jeon Jong-seo faced significant controversy in 2024, starting in March when she wore revealing leggings at a MLB event, drawing criticism for her outfit. Rumors about her wearing a “hip pad” followed, which she tried to dispel by wearing outfits that emphasized her hip line.
In April, an individual, claiming to be a middle school classmate of Jeon Jong-seo, posted accusations that she had stolen or taken other students’ gym or school uniforms and verbally abused them when they refused. Jeon Jong-seo’s agency denied the claims as false, and Jeon Jong-seo herself addressed the issue during an August press conference.
In October, her reputation was further damaged when it was suspected she followed a social media account posting abusive comments about her friends, Han So-hee and Hyeri. The account, suspected to be run by Han So-hee’s stylist, posted derogatory comments about the two actresses. Despite Jeon Jong-seo’s agency stating that it was difficult to confirm such personal matters, the controversy intensified. Han So-hee’s team denied the claims, even issuing a legal warning about the matter.
Just when the Han So-hee controversy seemed to subside, her insensitive selfie added fuel to the fire. While the accusations of school bullying and the hip pad controversy might be dismissed, the decision to post a smiling selfie during a national mourning period when the public was grieving stands out.
Meanwhile, Jeon Jong-seo, who has been publicly dating director Lee Chung-hyun since 2021, is currently filming the movie “Project Y” (working title), co-starring Han So-hee.
The post Jeon Jong-seo, The Subject of The Year’s Biggest Controversy? A Selfie During The National Mourning Period Peaks The Issue appeared first on KBIZoom. KBIZoom – Breaking news about K-pop, K-drama, Anime/Manga and worldwide entertainment KBIZoom – Breaking news about K-pop, K-drama, Anime/Manga and worldwide entertainment
