Cheering for Jung Woo-sung Amid 'Out-of-Wedlock Child' Controversy
"I Did Not Expect the Reaction"
"It Was a Fleeting Moment, So It's Hard to Judge Right or Wrong"
Actor Lim Ji-yeon cheered Jung Woo-sung, who mentioned the controversy over an extramarital child at the 45th Blue Dragon Film Awards ceremony. KBS
Actress Lim Ji-yeon expressed that she "did not expect" the public backlash after she applauded Jung Woo-sung, who mentioned the controversy surrounding his child born out of wedlock.
Lim Ji-yeon attended a wrap-up interview for the JTBC drama 'Okssi Buinjeon' held at a cafe in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, on the 23rd. She referred to the incident where she applauded Jung Woo-sung at the 45th Blue Dragon Film Awards ceremony held in November last year, which became a subject of criticism.
Lim said, "I did not anticipate such a reaction," adding, "It was a fleeting moment, so it feels a bit inappropriate to judge it as right or wrong." She further explained, "On the other hand, since it was during the airing period of 'Okssi Buinjeon,' I was also cautious." Lim Ji-yeon is known to be affiliated with Artist Company, an entertainment agency founded by Jung Woo-sung and his close friend Lee Jung-jae.
Previously, Jung Woo-sung caused a stir when it was revealed that he had a child out of wedlock with model Moon Ga-bi. After the controversy, he faced the public head-on by appearing on the Blue Dragon Film Awards stage with his film 'Spring in Seoul.' He bowed his head and said, "I stand here hoping that my private matters will not leave a stain on the film," and apologized sincerely, "I am truly sorry for causing concern and disappointment to everyone who has shown me love and support." He added, "I will take full responsibility for all criticism and carry it with me," and "As a father, I will fulfill my responsibilities to my son until the end."
In response, fellow actors including Lim Ji-yeon, who were seated in the audience, cheered and applauded Jung Woo-sung. Netizens who saw this pointed out that the reaction was inappropriate, commenting, "Is this something to be applauded?" and "The moral standards in that industry seem very different from those of ordinary people."
Meanwhile, Moon Ga-bi posted her first statement regarding the birth of her child out of wedlock on her social media on the 28th of last month. She said, "There have been numerous speculative and conjectural reports about the child," and added, "I chose to remain silent for everyone's sake, but ultimately, I decided to post publicly to protect the child." She explained, "In 2022, I met (Jung Woo-sung) at a gathering, and we got to know each other better and continued a good relationship. Our meetings continued until the last day of 2023," and clarified, "Since a certain day in January 2024, I have not met the person who is the father of the child even once, and I have never demanded marriage or anything else due to the pregnancy."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
