[OSEN=Kim Na-yeon Reporter] Actor Kim Ji-ho admitted and apologized for doodling with a pen on books borrowed from a public library.
On the 23rd, Kim Ji-ho posted an apology on his social account, saying, “I would like to first apologize to those who may have been inconvenienced by my careless actions.”
The issue arose from a recent post by Kim Ji-ho. On the 18th, Kim Ji-ho shared an update about his hectic life, mentioning health problems and family incidents, and expressed his hope for a better 2026.
Along with this, he posted photos taken in the hospital, one of which showed him reading a library book. In the photo, he held a pen that seemed to have been recently used, since the pen tip was visible.
In fact, Kim Ji-ho posted a picture of the book’s underlined pages, stating, “I finally finished reading it after delaying the return. Although my phone disrupted my concentration, the words continuously drew me in. Watching my parents, I reflect on the act of dismantling life as described by teacher Kim Hun. It’s painful, difficult, and lonely. That’s why these words resonate with me so much, with a piercing ache.”
The public criticized Kim Ji-ho for marking and annotating a borrowed library book and sharing it on social media. As the controversy grew, he disabled comments on his post and later issued an apology. He explained, “Out of habit, I underlined parts of the public library book, as I would in my own books, to remember. It’s unacceptable. When someone pointed it out, I realized my mistake. I will either replace the book for the library with a new one or pay for a replacement. I apologize and will act more carefully in the future.”
However, the controversy intensified as it was revealed that this wasn’t the first instance of Kim Ji-ho marking library books. In previous reading certification photos he posted, library barcodes were visible on books with underlining, and several types of pens were shown next to the books. Consequently, some netizens responded coolly, suggesting it was habitual behavior, not an accident.