Actor Gong Yoo has finally addressed a controversial comment he made over 20 years ago about the late President Park Chung-hee, which has resurfaced recently due to political discussions.

On December 5, Gong Yoo (real name Gong Ji-cheol, 45) sat down for an interview with Star News at a cafe in Jongno, Seoul, where he spoke about the 2005 interview with Vogue Girl. In the interview, he had said, "The most handsome men, in my opinion, are my father, Michael Jordan, and Park Chung Hee." The remark has attracted renewed attention after recent political events, including the declaration of a state of emergency by President Yoon Suk-yeol on December 3.

Gong Yoo explained, "For the past 20 years, this statement has followed me like a label. It’s not that I feel wronged, but I often feel like people try to use me in political situations because I’m a public figure. I’ve never given any political opinions or expressed any political stance. But on platforms like YouTube, some people have taken my words and added their own interpretations, making it seem like I was pushing a certain agenda. This makes me uncomfortable, but I also wonder if I even need to explain myself."

He continued, "I made that statement when I was in my early to mid-20s, and I didn’t fully understand the entertainment industry. It was an interview for a fashion magazine, not a deep or reflective conversation. I wasn’t as thoughtful or careful as I am now. A simple sentence I said in that interview has followed me ever since, especially when political issues come up. Looking back, I realize my words could have been misinterpreted, and I understand that it made some people uncomfortable. I should have been more cautious with what I said. What’s clear is that I’ve never had a wrong sense of history or morality—that’s the truth."

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Choi Si Hoon, known from Single’s Inferno and newlywed husband of singer Ailee, is facing backlash after being linked to a controversy from Wavve’s queer reality show ToGetHer.

Fans discovered that Choi is allegedly the CEO of the influencer agency representing Ri Won, a cast member now at the center of a growing scandal.

The situation started when castmate Han Gyeol spoke up, claiming Ri Won once suggested an overseas trip that felt more like a shady meeting than a casual hangout.

“I thought it was a fun vacation invite at first,” Han Gyeol said, “but when they started talking about meals and date-like things, I realized something was wrong. It felt like an inappropriate setup.”
Han Gyeol added, “Using someone’s sexuality as a shield for suspicious actions is not okay in this industry.”

Ri Won responded by saying it was all a misunderstanding and that the trip was mentioned casually during a conversation about food. “We joked about going to that country after talking about food,” Ri Won said.

However, things got more intense when Ri Won admitted to having a past as a 'beotbang' (adult streaming) BJ. “I know I’m not trustworthy right now, and I appeared on TV while hiding my past. That’s why I shared some proof—I was desperate,” Ri Won explained.

Ri Won also shared a blurred message from another cast member that accused them of fake dating and lying about knowing someone from Billboard. “You said you’d introduce me to a Billboard contact. Then give me their name and title,” the message read. “You just keep switching your targets.”

Ri Won replied, “He’s the team leader at Billboard Korea and also my influencer agency CEO.”
This comment led online users to dig deeper—and some claimed the CEO Ri Won mentioned is none other than Choi Si Hoon, Ailee’s husband.

Currently on his honeymoon with Ailee, Choi is now getting unwanted attention. Some netizens brought up his alleged past as an adult BJ and now, his possible involvement in this controversy.

On Ailee’s Instagram post from April 30, one fan wrote, “Unnie, sorry to bother you during your honeymoon, but please search Choi Si Hoon’s name. A female BJ said she’s signed to his company, and he supposedly arranged a meeting for her with a just-turned 19-year-old girl.”

As the issue grew, Ri Won spoke out again on May 1 to calm things down. “The person I mentioned in the messages was just someone who gave me advice,” Ri Won clarified. “He’s not my agency CEO, like some people assumed. I thought he could help with music, but he never made any business offer.”

Ri Won ended by saying, “I’m sorry for causing any confusion and discomfort to others with my personal remarks.”

So far, Choi Si Hoon and Ailee have not made public statements about the situation.

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