Ok Joo-hyun, the reason she brought up the 4th-year-old 'Ok-jangpan incident' with Kim Ho-young: "Left the work due to the frame... separate from professional ethics" [Full text]

*This content was translated by AI.

Musical actress Ok Joo-hyun, formerly of the group Finkle, explained why she regrets withdrawing her lawsuit against musical actor Kim Ho-young.

On the 8th, Ok Joo-hyun posted a long message on her Instagram, saying, "Thank you for reading this long post."

She stated, "It took a long time to write this. Some may think it is already in the past, and others may wonder why I am bringing it up now," referencing her recent re-examination of the 'Ok-jangpan incident' caused by Kim Ho-young in 2022 via the fan communication platform Bubble.

Recently, Ok Joo-hyun revealed a conversation she had with Kim Ho-young: "I have never received an apology from (Kim Ho-young). He said, 'Thank you for dropping the lawsuit. But I never criticized you once,' and also explained that he was promoting his friend's father's floor mats." She further confessed, "What I regret most after this incident is withdrawing the lawsuit. The advertising company suffered significant damage, and my nickname changed from 'Ok-sikrim' or 'Ok-korn' to 'Ok-jangpan' over a long period. It is sad."

Ok Joo-hyun said, "At that time, I did not want to escalate the controversy further, so I withdrew the lawsuit. After hearing the explanation that 'I never criticized you even once' and 'The post was made to promote my friend's father's floor mats,' I decided not to discuss this issue any further. However, as time passed, that frame did not disappear."

She continued, "I remained silent because I did not want to harm the work, the production company, or my colleagues. For many years within the musical genre, I have endured while striving to show the best effort and performance I could offer. However, the 'Ok-jangpan' frame that started from one person's words became a nickname attached to my name, and since then, I had to endure suspicions, mockery, and criticism created by those words for a long time."

Ok Joo-hyun said, "That remark did not end as a simple joke or incident. It actually affected my image, advertisements, and work activities. Even when deciding whether to choose or drop a project, I had to worry that the frame might become a burden for others." She added, "Eventually, I made the decision to leave a work for everyone's sake because I did not want to cause further damage to the production. In that process, I felt ashamed of being part of this musical society, which is why I opened my heart to my fans."

She also stated, "What I desire is not a simple emotional battle. However, if those words were truly not directed at me, why did so many people think of me? And why has there never been an explanation in front of the public regarding the damage and hurt caused by this?" She appealed, "I hope my name will no longer be consumed as a mockery called 'Ok-jangpan'."

In 2022, Kim Ho-young made a statement on his SNS: "Asari-pan is old news. Now it's Ok-jangpan." This spread speculation that Kim Ho-young was implying Ok Joo-hyun in the 'Ok-jangpan' remark, raising suspicions about nepotism casting in the musical 'Elisabeth.' In response, Ok Joo-hyun's side denied the nepotism casting allegations and filed a defamation lawsuit against Kim Ho-young before withdrawing it.

Although Ok Joo-hyun was reported to have reconciled with Kim Ho-young at that time, she recently brought the 'Ok-jangpan incident' back into the spotlight, drawing public criticism for being "unprofessional."

It took a long time to write this.

Some may think it is already in the past, and others may wonder why I am bringing it up now.

For a while, I thought silence was best, pretending everything was fine. I have shared my position through multiple interviews and articles. However, I felt that what truly compelled me to say those words, and what I endured during that time, were not properly conveyed.

At that time, I withdrew the lawsuit because I did not want to escalate the controversy further. After hearing the explanation that 'I never criticized you even once' and 'The post was made to promote my friend's father's floor mats,' I decided not to discuss this issue any further. However, as time passed, that frame did not disappear.

Nevertheless, I remained silent because I did not want to harm the work, the production company, or my colleagues. Now, I am not affiliated with any work or production company. I believe it is a time when I can speak solely as actress Ok Joo-hyun. That is why today, I wish to express my position directly.

For many years within the musical genre, I have endured while striving to show the best effort and performance I could offer. However, the 'Ok-jangpan' frame that started from one person's words became a nickname attached to my name, and since then, I had to endure suspicions, mockery, and criticism created by those words for a long time.

That remark did not end as a simple joke or incident. It actually affected my image, advertisements, and work activities. Even when deciding whether to choose or drop a project, I had to worry that the frame might become a burden for others.

Eventually, I made the decision to leave a work for everyone's sake because I did not want to cause further damage to the production. In that process, I felt ashamed of being part of this musical society, which is why I opened my heart to my fans. That was a separate issue from professional ethics.

For some, this may be an old story where fatigue has accumulated. But for me, it left deep wounds in my life and career as an actress.

What I desire is not a simple emotional battle. However, if those words were truly not directed at me, why did so many people think of me? And why has there never been an explanation in front of the public regarding the damage and hurt caused by this?

I also had moments where I was not emotionally prudent, and I am reflecting on that part. I hope my name will no longer be consumed as a mockery called 'Ok-jangpan.'

And I hope you understand that this matter was not just a nickname or meme, but something that actually affected an actress's life, stage, and career.

I want to be evaluated as an actress on stage in the future. And today, this post is finally my own words telling the story I could not share until now.

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*This content was translated by AI.