Lim Young Woong has finally spoken out after 21 days of silence following the "What?" controversy.

On December 27, the popular singer held his solo concert, Lim Young Woong Recital, at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, where he greeted his fans for the first time since the incident.

This concert marked his first public appearance after the direct message (DM) scandal, which had been a hot topic. During the concert, Lim Young Woong took the opportunity to apologize to his fans, saying, “I’m sorry for causing you worry and concern.”

He continued, “I am a singer. I am someone who sings to bring joy, comfort, and happiness,” expressing his desire to come back stronger and more developed than ever. The crowd responded with loud cheers and applause, showing their support.

The controversy started when Lim Young Woong posted a photo on December 7 to celebrate his pet dog’s birthday. In the photo, he wore heart-shaped sunglasses and stuck out his tongue. On the same day, a candlelight protest for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol was happening, coinciding with a critical vote in the National Assembly.

A netizen shared a DM conversation from Lim Young Woong's account, where they sarcastically asked, “What are you doing at this time?” referring to his dog’s birthday post. Lim Young Woong replied bluntly with, "What?"

The netizen then criticized him, questioning why he was silent during such a significant national event, pointing out that his demographic was particularly affected by recent political tensions.

Lim Young Woong responded, “Am I a politician? Why should I speak up?”

Despite the growing controversy, Lim Young Woong and his agency, Fish Music, stayed silent for 20 days without making any public statements until now.

Fans are glad to see him back and moving forward, as he reassures them with his apology and commitment to bring joy through his music.

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Actor Song Kang Ho shocked fans by revealing the surprising reason he initially turned down the iconic role in Joint Security Area (JSA).

On February 4, the movie JSA was celebrated as a "Visionary" work at a special GV (Guest Visit) event for CJ ENM’s 30th anniversary at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul. The event was attended by director Park Chan-wook and stars like Song Kang Ho, Lee Byung Hun, Lee Young Ae, Kim Tae Woo, and Ko Kyung Beom, who shared stories from the making of the film.

Joint Security Area, a groundbreaking film by director Park Chan-wook, tells the story of North and South Korean soldiers caught in a tragic incident at the border, highlighting the human side of the divided nations. The film has been widely praised for changing the perception of inter-Korean relations and is seen as a key moment in Korean cinema.

During the event, Song Kang Ho admitted that he turned down the JSA script at first, saying, "The script was just too perfect. It was so well-written and tightly woven that I couldn’t believe it. I thought, ‘Is this really Korean cinema at this level?’ I felt it was too good, and I figured the movie wouldn’t live up to the script."

He also mentioned that at the time, Park Chan-wook’s previous films hadn’t done well, which made him even more doubtful. "But after meeting the director, I started to trust him," Song Kang Ho added.

Reflecting on the film 20 years later, Song Kang Ho joked, "I was flipping through channels and watched JSA again. I thought, ‘There was a time when I wasn’t envious of Lee Byung Hun,’ but he looked so handsome and cool back then." He continued, laughing, "One thing about Park Chan-wook's films is that they have a depth and elegance that you just can’t forget. It’s probably why his new movie is called I Can’t Help It."

Song Kang Ho also spoke fondly of reuniting with his JSA co-stars after 25 years. He shared, "We didn’t watch the film together, but we had a cozy two-hour dinner. After all this time, it felt nostalgic. It was heartwarming to sit together again and reminisce about the past. It really made me realize how meaningful these moments are."

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