"'Fake Tanaka' fundraising is a serious problem"...Kim Kyung-wook on 'impersonation victim' [Full Text]

*This content was translated by AI.

Comedian Kim Kyung-wook (43) publicly warned influencer A, who is impersonating his sub-character Tanaka.

On the 18th, Kim Kyung-wook posted A's short-form video on social media. The video shows A, dressed indistinguishably as Kim Kyung-wook's sub-character Tanaka, responding to citizens' requests for photos.

Along with this, Kim Kyung-wook stated, "The problem is serious. I just wanted to let it slide quietly and didn't want to unnecessarily escalate the issue. That's why I left it alone for a while. However, reports keep coming in, and people are actually experiencing confusion, so I can no longer stand by. I have received multiple reports that someone is impersonating Tanaka to deceive young fans and take photos for them. I also keep hearing stories that someone is pretending to be Tanaka via DM (Direct Message), busking, collecting donations, and fundraising." He exposed A's impersonation misconduct.

He said, "At first, I didn't think much of it. I thought, 'Surely people wouldn't believe it's real.' Just as people don't get confused with the real Psy when someone imitates Psy, I just laughed it off and stayed quiet. But surprisingly, many people sent me DMs. 'Is that person the real Tanaka?', 'I heard someone saw Tanaka in Pohang, is that true?', 'Is it true that Tanaka is busking and collecting donations?' Such inquiries and reports kept coming in. That's when I realized that many people are experiencing more confusion than I thought. So I decided I can no longer just let it slide. Just as there was the so-called 'Fake Park Sang-min incident' in the past, where someone impersonated my senior Park Sang-min to attend events and profit, I know well that this is not a matter to be laughed off." He expressed his discomfort.

Kim Kyung-wook said, "If I leave it alone, it is ultimately the fans who will be harmed, and greater confusion may arise, which is why I am speaking out. If you see someone named OOO acting as a fake Kim Hong-nam (Kim Kyung-wook's sub-character) or a fake Tanaka in Pohang, please, I beg you, tell them to stop now." He delivered a weighty warning.

He continued, "Two years ago, you came to my event and asked if you could imitate Kim Hong-nam. Since I thought you were a fan, I readily gave my permission. However, that permission was only for imitating for fun. It was not permission to turn on YouTube Live, pretend to be Kim Hong-nam, make money, confuse people, and engage in profit-making activities. Last time, I clearly told you to stop imitating Kim Hong-nam, but now you are acting as Tanaka. Many people, including myself, have left comments on that TikTok video saying 'Please stop now,' but I keep receiving reports that such comments are being deleted in real time. Parody and impersonation are strictly different." He pointed this out.

Furthermore, Kim Kyung-wook said, "I can understand imitating for fun as a fan. However, even after clearly expressing my discomfort, continuing to impersonate Tanaka and Kim Hong-nam, deceiving people, causing confusion, and engaging in profit-making activities is no longer a matter to be laughed off. I respectfully ask again. Please, please stop now. Also, I ask you to take down all videos and photos uploaded on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, etc., that the general public might mistake for Tanaka and Kim Hong-nam. I hope fans and young people no longer experience confusion. I want to be remembered as a fan. I hope we no longer have to argue with each other." He spoke politely.

Soon after, Kim Kyung-wook said, "If, after this, the act of impersonating Tanaka and Kim Hong-nam for profit or deceiving people continues, I must clearly state that I will no longer stand by and will have to consider taking necessary measures. I hope this post and video serve as a final warning." He hinted at legal action.

The problem is serious.

Honestly, I didn't want to post such a bad thing on my feed.

I just wanted to let it slide quietly and didn't want to unnecessarily escalate the issue.

That's why I left it alone for a while.

However, reports keep coming in, and people are actually experiencing confusion, so I can no longer stand by.

I have received multiple reports that someone is impersonating Tanaka to deceive young fans and take photos for them.

I also keep hearing stories that someone is pretending to be Tanaka via DM, busking, collecting donations, and fundraising.

At first, I didn't think much of it.

I thought, 'Surely people wouldn't believe it's real.'

Just as people don't get confused with the real Psy when someone imitates Psy, I just laughed it off and stayed quiet.

But surprisingly, many people sent me DMs.

"Is that person the real Tanaka?"

"I heard someone saw Tanaka in Pohang, is that true?"

"Is it true that Tanaka is busking and collecting donations?"

Such inquiries and reports kept coming in.

That's when I realized.

That many people are experiencing more confusion than I thought.

So I decided I can no longer just let it slide.

Just as there was the so-called 'Fake Park Sang-min incident' in the past, where someone impersonated my senior Park Sang-min to attend events and profit, I know well that this is not a matter to be laughed off.

If I leave it alone, it is ultimately the fans who will be harmed, and greater confusion may arise, which is why I am speaking out.

I really hate and find it troublesome to even post a video about this, but I have no choice but to speak out.

If you see someone named Heung Star acting as a fake Kim Hong-nam or a fake Tanaka in Pohang, please, I beg you, tell them to stop now.

Two years ago, you came to my event and asked if you could imitate Kim Hong-nam. Since I thought you were a fan, I readily gave my permission.

However, that permission was only for imitating for fun. It was not permission to turn on YouTube Live, pretend to be Kim Hong-nam, make money, confuse people, and engage in profit-making activities.

Last time, I clearly told you to stop imitating Kim Hong-nam, but now you are acting as Tanaka.

Many people, including myself, have left comments on that TikTok video saying 'Please stop now,' but I keep receiving reports that such comments are being deleted in real time.

Parody and impersonation are strictly different.

I can understand imitating for fun as a fan.

However, even after clearly expressing my discomfort, continuing to impersonate Tanaka and Kim Hong-nam, deceiving people, causing confusion, and engaging in profit-making activities is no longer a matter to be laughed off.

I respectfully ask again.

Please, please stop now.

Also, I ask you to take down all videos and photos uploaded on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, etc., that the general public might mistake for Tanaka and Kim Hong-nam.

I hope fans and young people no longer experience confusion.

I want to be remembered as a fan.

I hope we no longer have to argue with each other.

If, after this, the act of impersonating Tanaka and Kim Hong-nam for profit or deceiving people continues, I must clearly state that I will no longer stand by and will have to consider taking necessary measures.

I hope this post and video serve as a final warning.

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*This content was translated by AI.