Singer Lim Young-woong’s year-end concert is just a day away, and there is significant attention on whether he will address the ongoing “What?” controversy that has surrounded him for 20 days. Lim Young-woong is set to hold a solo performance, “Lim Young-woong Recital,” at Gocheok Sky Dome from December 27 to January 4. Despite the controversy, all the tickets for the concert have been sold out, showcasing his unchanged popularity.
Lim Young-woong, who has over 400,000 followers, became embroiled in controversy when his direct message (DM) was revealed. On December 3, amidst the national emergency declared by President Yoon Suk-yeol, Lim posted a birthday message for his pet dog on his personal account. A netizen sent him a DM asking, “What are you doing in this situation?” to which Lim replied, “What?” The netizen then criticized him for being insensitive during a time when the whole nation was discussing the impeachment of a president who bypassed the constitution to declare martial law. Lim reportedly responded, “Am I a politician? Why should I speak out?” which sparked a heated debate.
Initially, it was rumored that the DM was sent by a popular variety show PD, but the PD clarified that they never sent a DM to Lim. It was later revealed that the person who originally posted the messages was a member of a well-known online community for women, which is famed for its radical feminism, support for specific political parties, and anti-male sentiments.
Although the post was deleted by its author, Lim Young-woong and his agency have yet to issue any statement regarding the controversy, resulting in growing public criticism. Cultural critic Kim Gap-soo heavily criticized Lim on the podcast “Mabeulshow,” stating, “Being indifferent to the declaration of martial law is akin to saying ‘couldn’t it happen?’ about a mass murder. Saying ‘Am I a politician? Why should I care?’ shows a lack of basic civic awareness. Such a stance disqualifies one from being part of the Korean people who have painstakingly built a democratic history.” Another commentator, Choi Uk, openly stated, “I don’t want to have anything to do with Lim Young-woong. I really dislike him.”
Additionally, a netizen filed a complaint with Pocheon City’s public service center, requesting a thorough verification of Lim’s DM remarks and suggesting his removal as a public relations ambassador if necessary.
Despite the controversy, Lim Young-woong’s fandom remains largely unaffected. The number of members in the fan club “Hero Era” has not seen significant changes, and concert tickets are being resold for as much as 250,000 KRW, demonstrating his enduring popularity. There are no reports of declined sales or boycott movements against the products Lim endorses, and he maintains his position as the top-ranked brand in the trot singer category. The public is keen to see if he will address the controversy during his concert.