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."
Source (1)
