[Sports Chosun Reporter Kim Sohee] Cultural critic Kim Gapsu has found himself at the center of controversy for making comments that seemingly defend the recent allegations surrounding Kim Soo-hyun’s ‘relationship with a minor.’
On the 17th, cultural critic Kim Gapsu and broadcaster Heo Jaemoo appeared on the YouTube channel ‘Mabul Show’ in the ‘Morning Mabul Controversy’ segment, where they discussed Kim Soo-hyun’s ‘relationship with a minor’ allegations.
Kim Gapsu began by expressing his regret for the late actress Kim Sae-ron, saying, “I’m saddened by the passing of a young actor, and I wish for her to be farewelled quietly. The mudslinging among those left behind is genuinely unfortunate.”
He continued, “There are battles over damages amounting to 700 million won, and there’s chaos over accepting the relationship. It all seems bizarre and unpleasant. I question whether it’s appropriate to impose such restrictions on matters of love.”
Kim Gapsu added, “I’ve never been particularly interested in Kim Soo-hyun, but this uproar about a relationship with a minor – why is it treated like a massive crime? People can have significant age differences in relationships, can’t they? Why suddenly label it a relationship with a minor? Does that even make sense?”
Kim Gapsu speculated, “They probably dated at a young age. Given that Kim Sae-ron was a child actress, she likely became socialized early. She might have started dating at 16, while the man’s age was 27. In my case, I probably wouldn’t have considered such a relationship because I’ve never dated a younger woman, it wouldn’t have worked for me.”
Interrupting, Choi Wook expressed his shock, noting, “Those are inappropriate words,” but Kim Gapsu persisted, saying, “Isn’t this a matter of individual characteristics?”
Kim Gapsu argued, “Many current social norms and ethics are outdated. People criticize adult men for dating minors, but is that truly a fair judgment? Just a few years ago, divorce was seen as a sin. In our society, diverse aspects of human relationships are viewed with outdated or legal standards. Especially in matters of love, there are various complexities in every relationship throughout human history. Yet, in our case, why are we so rigid, using such norms as tools to attack others?”
He elaborated, “Even if Kim Soo-hyun’s claims weren’t truthful, the efforts to deny the relationship with Kim Sae-ron from the beginning could be attributed to concerns over image management. It’s not necessarily bad, but he might have lacked the courage to fight against societal norms. Ultimately, it’s a matter of social custom.”
Choi Wook sighed deeply and commented, “This unfolded as I feared. I wanted to talk about copy-paste journalism. Is this issue so significant today? It’s distressing that all media outlets focus on this issue so extensively. I’m worried our broadcast will amplify this matter without bringing positive results.”
Following the broadcast, the video received a flood of criticism online. Netizens condemned Kim Gapsu’s remarks, arguing, “It’s wrong to defend relationships with minors,” “Relationships with minors are legally punishable, and his comments are too trivializing,” and “How could he speak so lightly about someone who’s passed away?”
As the controversy escalated, ‘Mabul Show’ decided to delete the contentious part of the broadcast.