In a post two weeks ago, we conducted a sort of unscientific survey in which we asked PSH fans to say if they thought PSH should apologize as a condition for making his comeback in Korea:
http://parksihoo4u.com/2015/07/29/im-sorry-2/”>
From comments on our blog and e-mails sent to us, it would appear the majority of PSH fans were of the opinion he should NOT apologize, even if it meant he would never again be able to appear in another Korean drama or movie.
Some, however, seemed to have misunderstood the purpose of the apology. We did NOT mean PSH to apologize for rape — something he definitely did not do, since it was obvious he was set up.
We meant to ask: Should PSH apologize for causing social controversy? That seemed to be something distinctly Korean. All the entertainers and celebrities apologize for causing social controversy (a case in point being the Korean Airlines’ “nut rage case” of December 2014.)
You all know the saying: “In Rome do as the Romans do.” PSH did not go to Rome; he was born there, or rather, in Korea. He has no choice but to do what is expected of him, as a Korean.
Unless, of course, he would rather opt out of the Korean entertainment world than swallow his pride.
In the article “Silence and Footsteps” yesterday, Mar78 cited the case of Joo Ji Hoon who was busted in a drug case in 2009, went off to do his military service (cooling period), and made his comeback in a Korean drama in 2012. It is true that in recent years (according to a Korean news report we posted not so long ago), Koreans look upon drugs more kindly than on sex, so that entertainers caught and convicted in drug raids managed to make their comeback faster and easier than those who were involved in sex scandals. But guess who JJH’s boss is? Bae Yong Joon! JJH signed with Key East on his discharge from the military. No wonder he could recoup lost ground in such a short time.
PSH does not belong to any large or influential management company. His Hoo Factory is a one-actor MC, and has no connections, no clout, which means no bargaining power. We can totally understand PSH’s desire to be his own master. Being under a big MC not only means a large chunk of your earnings goes to the company but also that you are under orders to do this or that, take this role, do that CF, etc. PSH is a free spirit which does not wish to be shackled.
YOUTUBE
Cha Jr. and Cha Sr. reluctantly apologizing to each other in CDDA
TUDOU
http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/15NoW2CmEYE/
How hard is it to say “I’m sorry”? Americans apologize all the time — politicians who screw up, celebrities who put their foot in their mouth, entertainers caught with their pants down …. Americans are very liberal with their apologies and the American public is very generous in their forgiveness.
Not so the Korean public which is so unforgiving. They do not forgive or forget.
They want you to bow and say “I’m sorry” in public.
Will PSH apologize? Should he apologize? Even if it is just a generic apology.
No? Well, we still have our DVDs of PSH’s old dramas and movies, as well as the OSTs.
(Credits: www.dramacool.com. Screencap and video edited by H.A.T.)