Jennie and Seulgi: Comparing the Public Perception of Two Korean Celebrities

On July 12th, Seulgi and the rest of the Red Velvet members traveled to Kaohsiung, Taiwan, for the “K-MEGA CONCERT IN KAOHSIUNG.”At Incheon International Airport, Seulgi was seen wearing high heels, but upon arrival at Kaohsiung Airport, she was wearing sneakers. Her manager, however, was wearing the same high heels and was carrying a luggage on her shoulders when they disembarked from the plane. This sparked controversy as to whether Seulgi had asked her staff to switch shoes with her.

When the news of the incident spread, Seulgi promptly issued an apology on July 13th, expressing regret for letting down her manager and others due to the incident at the airport the previous day. Seulgi explained that she had developed blisters and wounds on her feet from practicing and had thought it was acceptable to wear heels since they were not very high. She admitted to her carelessness in not bringing extra sneakers and acknowledged her mistake, saying that as she walked, she began to get more scars. When her manager noticed her struggling to walk, she suggested exchanging shoes to prevent any impact on the performance. Seulgi clarified that she only switched shoes with her manager after getting off the plane. She took responsibility for her momentary lapse

The Korean public was understanding of Seulgi’s position, with netizens even commending her for addressing the controversy promptly and directly through her personal social media account instead of relying on her agency. Furthermore, both fans and the public were in agreement as Seulgi provided a thorough explanation of the situation and took responsibility for her actions. Seulgi’s reputation for kindness also played a positive role, as she is known for her admirable personality and character, which have been observed by industry insiders and fans alike. As a result, the public accepted Seulgi’s apology and the controversy was resolved without further escalation.

Despite being caught smoking indoors in a YouTube video released on July 2nd, Jennie’s case was different from others. Many criticized her for her rude action of smoking vape while getting her makeup done, without any regard for the makeup staff right in front of her.

Jennie has issued an apology for the incident, stating, “We sincerely regret any discomfort caused to those involved,”according to a statement from her agency OA Entertainment. She is currently in the process of reflecting on her actions, specifically smoking indoors and the consequences it had on other staff members. Additionally, she has personally reached out to the staff and expressed her remorse for her behavior.

Despite Jennie’s official apology, the controversy surrounding her did not subside. In fact, many considered it to be the biggest crisis she has faced since her debut. Additionally, her past controversies resurfaced, causing further backlash from the Korean public. Overall, compared to Seulgi, Jennie received a negative response from the Korean public in various aspects.

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The public criticized Jennie for not apologizing “directly,”and also raised concerns about the simplicity of the apology without any explanation of the situation.