Hong Jin-kyung Addresses Political Controversy with Apology Video

On June 2, a day before the 21st presidential election in South Korea, broadcaster Hong Jin-kyung faced backlash after posting multiple photos on her social media from a clothing store in Stockholm, Sweden, where she was seen wearing different red sweaters. This sparked a political color controversy due to the timing of her posts.

In response to the growing criticism, Hong issued a handwritten apology on June 3, expressing regret for her actions during the sensitive voting period. She stated, "I have often felt sorry for celebrities who act in ways that could be misunderstood during the voting period, and I can't believe I made such a foolish mistake at this sensitive time. I am genuinely embarrassed. The photos I posted were taken two days prior in a store in Stockholm. I thought the designs were interesting but did not consider the color of the tops I was wearing."

She continued, "Having spent a long time abroad, I seem to have lost my sense of tension. Regardless of the reason, I was wrong. I have no excuses, and I clearly made a mistake. I sincerely apologize for causing confusion during this sensitive time."

Despite her apology, many criticized her for making such a mistake just a day before the election, especially since she had previously invited three leading candidates for interviews. Some continued to interpret her red sweater photos as politically motivated, showing a cold response to her explanations.

On June 10, Hong released a video titled "The Truth About the Red Clothes" on her channel, 'Study King Jin-kyung.' After returning from her overseas trip on June 7, she met with her production team to clarify the controversy again. "I apologized on social media for not thinking about my actions. I should have been more cautious, especially since I had interviewed the three presidential candidates. I truly apologize for being thoughtless," she said.

Hong emphasized, "From now on, I will only tell you the truth. My mother always says to speak with integrity, but I believe people might not trust my conscience. So, I will swear on my precious daughter’s life. I did not think of any specific candidate or party when I posted the photo in the red sweater. I had no thoughts of Korea at all. I simply thought the sweater was beautiful and wanted to share the photo. That is my truth."

She further stated, "If my words are true, my daughter will live a healthy and happy life as she wishes. If there is any lie in my words, everything I do will fail, and my life will be ruined. I would give my life for my daughter, who is so precious to me. I can make such a serious vow to prove my innocence. I am calm because I am not lying. My daughter will thrive if I am truthful."

Hong also clarified that she left for her trip before the early voting period and was unable to vote due to a packed schedule in Helsinki. She explained, "I had meetings with buyers that were scheduled long before the election dates were set, and I could not adjust my plans. I was working tightly from Helsinki to Tallinn for business, and it was only after finishing my business in Sweden that I had free time."

She recounted her excitement upon discovering a store of a brand she loved was just 600 meters from her accommodation. "I was thrilled. I don’t usually wear red, but the sweater design was too pretty. While changing in the fitting room, I was encouraged to try on another red sweater. I took photos excitedly and posted them on social media without thinking."

Hong admitted she never anticipated the controversy that would arise, stating, "I believe my lack of thought was my crime. I should have remembered the election period and remained vigilant. I apologize for that. However, I had no other intentions."

Regarding the fairness of her interview content with presidential candidates, she explained, "I only wanted to create an opportunity for the public to hear the candidates' policies in detail. The order of the interviews was determined by a dice roll, so I hope there are no misunderstandings about that."

She also addressed concerns about her producer, Seok-ro PD, who previously worked at TV Chosun, clarifying that he had applied to multiple companies and was not solely affiliated with TV Chosun. Seok-ro PD expressed his commitment to fairness in the production process.

The video included footage from her trip to Northern Europe, documenting her shopping experience and the process of trying on the red sweater. After posting the photos at 9 PM local time, Hong woke up the next morning to numerous missed calls, prompting her to issue her apology.

Reflecting on the situation, she said, "I was shocked to see 84 missed calls. I wrote my heartfelt apology, but I have no words to explain how thoughtless I was. I think of my mother and feel sorry for her. I have had some personal struggles that I wanted to forget, and then this incident happened. I don’t know what will happen next."

Before returning home, Hong went hiking and contemplated how to resolve the misunderstandings. She stated, "I don’t think time will make this go away. I will face this head-on. I sincerely apologize for disappointing everyone. I will be more careful in my thoughts and actions moving forward. Please forgive me just this once."