Hong Jin-kyung Apologizes Again for Controversial Red Outfit Ahead of Presidential Election
On June 10, broadcaster Hong Jin-kyung addressed the controversy surrounding a photo she posted on social media wearing a red outfit, which is associated with the People Power Party, just a day before the 21st presidential election. The photo has since been deleted. In a video on her YouTube channel, 'Study King Genius Hong Jin-kyung,' she explained that she had just returned from a business trip and went straight to her office. She received numerous messages from friends advising her to stay silent, suggesting that the issue would fade with time. However, she felt compelled to clarify her stance.
Hong stated, "I apologized on social media for my thoughtless actions. I should have been more mindful, especially since I interviewed three presidential candidates during the election period. I sincerely apologize for my lack of awareness."
During the election, she interviewed Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party, Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party, and Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party on her channel. She mentioned that her mother advised her to speak with integrity, but she feared that people might not trust her conscience. To emphasize her sincerity, she vowed on behalf of her beloved daughter, stating, "I did not think of any specific candidate or party when I posted the photo in red. I was completely focused on how beautiful the outfit was."
She further clarified, "There was no hesitation about whether to post the photo. I simply thought it looked great and wanted to share it. I would stake my life on my daughter's well-being to prove my innocence."
Hong reiterated that there was no intention behind her actions and explained that she had left for a trip before the early voting, which prevented her from participating in the election. The controversy began when she shared multiple photos in a red top on June 2, the day before the election. Following the backlash, she issued a handwritten apology, expressing her disbelief at her own foolish mistake during such a sensitive time and sincerely apologizing for causing confusion among the public.
