“GD·Lee Jin-wook, and learned from ‘Park Yoo-chun'”… Kim Soo-hyun’s tearful blunder
[TV Report = Gu Hana] Kim Soo-hyun’s press conference was a failure. Instead of a clear explanation, he asked for sympathy for his difficult life as “Star Kim Soo-hyun” and cried. He tried to justify his lies and played the victim. His unusual behavior of flipping through a script while shedding tears left suspicions of acting.
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This is not a simple emotional backlash. The public, having experienced other celebrities’ press conferences multiple times, has learned to distinguish between truth and falsehood. G-Dragon, who was entangled in drug allegations, and Lee Jin-wook, who faced sexual assault charges, appeared more confident in front of the camera. Both refrained from emotional responses and focused on proving the facts.
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In contrast, Park Yoo-chun, who held a tearful press conference like Kim Soo-hyun, left only question marks with the public. Everything turned out to be false, and he was dishonorably retired from the entertainment industry.
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What was different about the four press conferences?
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▲ G-Dragon, joking with the press
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In November 2023, G-Dragon was booked without detention under suspicion of violating the Narcotics Control Act.
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At the time, the police investigated G-Dragon based on a statement from A, a manager at a nightlife establishment in Gangnam, Seoul, claiming he had used drugs at the club in December 2022. However, A’s statement lacked credibility, later changing to say he had not directly seen G-Dragon using drugs.
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From the moment the case was revealed by the media, G-Dragon strongly denied the allegations. He tested negative in field tests and hair analysis by the National Forensic Service, leaving no significant evidence for prosecution, although police intended to continue their investigation.
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The fact that G-Dragon was involved in drug allegations severely damaged his image, especially given the history of drug-related incidents involving other YG Entertainment celebrities. Some remained skeptical of his innocence, and past footage showing his awkward and exaggerated gestures circulated as rumored evidence of drug effects.
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However, public opinion shifted completely when G-Dragon voluntarily appeared at the police station.
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Displaying consistent composure, G-Dragon joked to a reporter’s question about the focus of the investigation, “It ended with laughter. Just teasing.” He further expressed hope for prompt and accurate results from the investigative agency, exhibiting a smile.
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The public’s skepticism shifted due to his confidence and composure. After 50 days of investigation, the police concluded him innocent of the charges.
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▲ Lee Jin-wook dispelling criticism with a confident gaze
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Lee Jin-wook faced false charges but refrained from emotional responses.
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In 2016, he was accused of sexual assault. As he appeared for questioning as a suspect, addressing the press confidently, he stated, “People seem to easily think of falsely accusing someone just because their face is known.” Leaving behind the thought-provoking statement, “False accusation is truly a serious crime,” he smiled.
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The public’s criticism shifted to neutrality after witnessing his confident gaze, advocating for waiting for the investigation results. “False accusation” peaked in real-time searches, leaving a significant impression.
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Choosing smiles over tears, Lee Jin-wook was acquitted, as the woman (B) who accused him was convicted of false accusations, receiving an eight-month prison sentence with a two-year probation.
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▲ Park Yoo-chun reading a script in tears, ending in disgraceful retirement
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Park Yoo-chun’s tearful plea led to a different outcome.
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He was implicated by his former girlfriend Hwang Hana, during her police investigation for drug use in 2019, as a celebrity involved in drug use. To defend his innocence, Park Yoo-chun held an emergency press conference, tearfully asserting, “I never used or offered drugs.”
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While crying and reading a prepared script, he claimed, “If the charges are acknowledged, it will affect my life beyond just discontinuing activities as a celebrity Park Yoo-chun.” He also expressed his willingness to undergo drug tests by voluntarily presenting himself for police investigation.
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However, despite his consistent claims of innocence during three police investigations, a leg hair test revealed methamphetamine, leading to his disgraceful retirement, teaching the public that tears are not always truthful.
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▲ Kim Soo-hyun’s “tearful press conference” reminiscent of Park Yoo-chun
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Kim Soo-hyun’s press conference bore similarities. He too focused more on reading a prepared script than wiping his tear-streaked face, emphasizing the dilemma of “Star Kim Soo-hyun” vs. “Human Kim Soo-hyun” while explaining that he lied to avoid causing harm if he collapsed.
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The public was not interested in Kim Soo-hyun’s dilemma but rather curious about how he met the deceased, the nature of their relationship, why inappropriate remarks were made to a minor, and the discrepancies in the letter the deceased wrote about their dating period.
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Without apologizing to the deceased, his self-pitying tears left public thinking it felt like acting. Unlike in the past, emotional appeals no longer evoke sympathy. Informed audiences won’t be deceived by tears anymore. Instead, explaining the core issues clearly without lies and conveying facts candidly seems to be a more credible strategy.