Hong Jin-kyung Faces Backlash Over Red Outfit Before Presidential Election

On June 2, broadcaster Hong Jin-kyung stirred controversy by posting photos of herself in a red outfit on social media, just one day before the 21st presidential election in South Korea. Following backlash from netizens who speculated that her choice of color indicated support for a specific candidate, she deleted the post and issued an apology, stating, "I’m sorry for causing confusion during this sensitive time."

In her post, Hong shared several images of herself wearing a red top while visiting a clothing store and dining at a restaurant. Many online users pointed out the significance of the color red, leading to assumptions about her political leanings. Comments ranged from criticism, such as "Why are you trying so hard to hide your intentions?" and "I’m unsubscribing," to supportive messages like "Always cheering for you" and "Red is a passionate color."

As the controversy escalated, Hong removed the post and later shared a handwritten apology on June 3, admitting, "Regardless of the reason, I was wrong."

She explained that she was abroad and had just checked the internet due to time zone differences, expressing regret for the delay in her response. "I woke up to numerous calls. I’ve often felt disappointed seeing celebrities act in ways that could be misinterpreted during voting periods, and I can’t believe I made such a foolish mistake during this sensitive time."

Hong clarified that the photos were taken two days prior in a store in Stockholm, and she had posted them simply because she found the design interesting, not considering the implications of the color she was wearing. "Having spent so much time abroad, I think I lost my sense of awareness about the situation in Korea," she added.

She concluded her message by reiterating her sincere apologies for causing confusion during this critical period.

Previously, Karina from the girl group aespa faced similar scrutiny for posting a photo in a red jacket with the number '2' on it, prompting her agency to clarify the situation. Rapper Beenzino also encountered backlash for a post featuring red imagery, stating that there was no political intent behind it.

Recently, Hong Jin-kyung shared videos on her YouTube channel, 'Study King Jin-kyung' (공부왕찐천재 홍진경), featuring discussions with presidential candidates Lee Jae-myung from the Democratic Party, Kim Moon-soo from the People Power Party, and Lee Jun-seok from the Reform Party.