[Comprehensive] "Don't Use the Deceased as a Weapon" Kim Heechul's Sharp Remark to Reporter Wi Geunwoo Mentioning Late Sulli

Kim Hee-chul and the late Sulli, Goo Hara engage in a heated debate with reporter Wi Geun-woo over 'gender conflict'

Singer Kim Heechul. Photo by JTBC, captured from '7.7 Billion Love'.

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Kim Hee-chul, a member of the group Super Junior, engaged in a heated debate with reporter Wi Geun-woo over the gender conflicts surrounding the late Sulli and Goo Hara. Kim Hee-chul expressed his displeasure by directly commenting on Wi Geun-woo's SNS and also shared his feelings on a community board where his fans gather. He further emphasized that he would take legal action against those spreading false rumors and posting malicious comments (malicious commenters) about the two's deaths.

On the JTBC show '7.7 Billion Love' aired on the 20th, Kim Hee-chul mentioned Goo Hara and Sulli, who passed away last year by extreme choices, stating, "What made me most angry after going through that was dividing and fighting by gender." He added, "Men made sexually harassing remarks, and women made insulting comments about women's shame. After the two friends passed away, they fought while blaming each other."

Following Kim Hee-chul's remarks, reporter Wi Geun-woo opened his statement on Instagram by saying, "I cannot dare to understand the anger of Mr. Kim Hee-chul, who lost two colleagues he was personally close to."

He continued, "Regarding the late Sulli, there were not only male malicious commenters but also female malicious commenters, and even if it is somewhat true that some switched sides, equating this to a gender conflict issue and saying both sides are wrong is a misguided judgment," criticizing Kim Hee-chul's remarks.

He further stated, "While it is true that both male and female malicious commenters were wrong, drawing the conclusion that both men and women are at fault in 'gender conflict' based on that is a logical leap," condemning the statement.

Additionally, reporter Wi Geun-woo cited the lyrics of Kim Hee-chul's song 'Vibe from Experience' as an example, pointing out, "I do not see Kim Hee-chul's justification of the 'gender conflict' discourse he usually believes in as a very detailed analysis."

Subsequently, Kim Hee-chul directly commented on Wi Geun-woo's Instagram post, expressing displeasure by saying, "Sir, whether a malicious commenter or a criminal is 'male or female,' does that really matter?" and "Regardless of gender, if you commit a crime, you are simply a criminal."

He added, "Even I and colleagues who were close to them are still numb and upset, so we cannot casually mention the two friends' names and speak cautiously, but who are you to write such posts using the deceased?" and criticized, "Stop using the deceased as a weapon while you guys are fighting."

Afterward, Kim Hee-chul posted directly on his DC Minor Gallery. He expressed his feelings, saying, "Yesterday on '7.7 Billion Love,' they addressed malicious comments. Because of that, someone left various remarks on my SNS, and I was dumbfounded reading those posts. This time, I thought I should not endure it and replied."

He continued, "What I still don't understand is the misogyny controversy over the song 'Vibe from Experience.' My longtime fans and fans of other singers know well how many terrible rumors were created not only about me but others on the Women’s Generation Cafe," and added, "The lyrics imply 'I go back and forth between misogyny and misandry,' but some female netizens got upset and accused me of misogyny."

He vented, "It was disgusting that a reporter used the deceased as a weapon to argue his thoughts. He probably doesn't even know why the deceased struggled so much during her lifetime or has never even listened to her once."

He then said, "The reason I am writing this is because my fans, who have liked the entertainer Kim Hee-chul, have had to fight against all kinds of malicious commenters and respond to baseless rumors one by one, and I feel sorry for them again," and stated, "It would be easier to just endure and ignore, but I thought it was absolutely wrong to make up stories using the deceased to suit their own tastes and talk nonsense."

He added, "Still, there is one thing: I am always grateful and sorry to the fans who like me, so I am leaving this post here, a place where it can be comfortably seen among many places. I don't care where it spreads," and declared his intention to sue malicious commenters, saying, "Personally, I will proceed with punishment without leniency through my lawyer."