It seems the atmosphere has shifted as Chen, who was vilified by K-Netz when he got married, is now being seen in a new light — all because of Korean actor Jung Woo Sung’s paternal scandal.
In 2020, Chen, whose real name is Kim Jongdae, announced his marriage to his then-girlfriend who was also expecting their firstborn. Back then, the EXO member was under fire and got the short end of the stick as his life milestone didn’t sit well with many. Some EXO-Ls turned their backs on him, with people even criticizing him for having a “shotgun wedding.”
Despite the backlash, the EXO main vocalist continued to work, promoting as a solo singer and with his group. In 2022, he released his 3rd EP “Last Scene,” while his 4th EP “Door” was unveiled in May of 2024.
Fast forward to November, the Korean entertainment industry was shocked after it was revealed that top actor Jung Woo Sung is the father of Moon Gabi’s child, born in March this year, per Dispatch. His agency also confirmed the reports that he is the baby daddy, adding that the first pair met in 2022.
TenAsia also further reported that Moon Gabi wanted to get married, but the actor refused as he was firmly against the concept of marriage. In spite of this, he reportedly said that he would do his best as the father, even though at a distance.
But the plot thickened when it was revealed that Jung Woo Sung actually had a girlfriend for ten years, and was unaware of his situation with Moon Gabi.
With this timeline of the scandal, Koreans are suddenly re-evaluating EXO Chen. Out of the blue, K-Netz are praising the singer for taking responsibility for his wife and kids.
“Seriously, looking at the recent entertainment scandals, Kim Jongdae is a nobleman,” a Korean internet user wrote on Pann.
Another one said, “It’s hilarious that Kim Jongdae is being re-evaluated. Even though he’s hated by fans, he doesn’t deserve to be cursed, and he’s fully responsible for his family. In this day and age, he’s seen as a fairy.”
“At least Chen married his girlfriend and took responsibility for her pregnancy. Now, he has a happy family,” an internet user opined.
Then, a fan wrote, “My taste is not wrong. He was my first idol I liked when I was in elementary school. He was so good in terms of humanity.”