The “kalguksu controversy” involving the 19-year-old member of the famous K-pop group NewJeans has caused a wave of debate regarding the strict control and great pressure placed on K-pop stars.
This controversy recently resurfaced nearly a year following the initial incident and the female artist had to apologize. The incident originated from a scene in a YouTube video broadcast in January 2023, when member Minji of the popular group NewJeans expressed that she did not know regarding “kalguksu” while talking in Korean: “Kalguksu What is that?”
Will K-pop idols be boycotted because they claim not to know the “national” noodle dish?
Minji of the girl group NewJeans faced controversy over a supposedly trivial issue. Photo: NewJeans.
Kalguksu is a noodle dish made from flour cut with a knife, often served with broth and other ingredients, this is a very popular dish in Korean cuisine. Minji’s comment regarding popular food led to controversy over whether she was feigning ignorance, acting like a “noble girl” who was not used to cheap food.
After all the controversy, Minji addressed the issue in a live broadcast attended by all NewJeans members earlier this month.
She said, “Do you really think I don’t know anything regarding kalguksu? Think carefully. I said, I don’t know because I really don’t know (regarding kalguksu). Do you know regarding all types kalguksu and the ingredients that make it or not?”.
Although she tried to explain, some netizens still criticized her for her “harsh and unpleasant tone”, causing Minji to apologize once more on the fan communication app Phoneing. .
She wrote: “I’m sorry that my bad attitude during the live broadcast on January 2 made viewers feel uncomfortable. As a picky eater and having never tried kalguksu before, I accidentally said: ” What is kalguksu?” when I was thinking regarding its type and taste, I was only talking to myself so I didn’t know there was a misunderstanding”.
Kalguksu noodles are a popular dish in Korean cuisine. Photo: Korea Times.
She also mentioned that her initial lack of decisiveness in solving the problem made things worse. “At first, I thought the matter would disappear over time. However, the matter was pushed too far and that made me very sad, I decided to resolve it (through an online chat) in my spirit. angry. However, I have deeply reflected on myself for disappointing you with my immature attitude. From now on, I pledge to be more mindful to avoid repeating similar mistakes. on one’s own.”
Minji’s apology caused mixed controversy, some even thought that she did not need to apologize for such a small issue, they shared sympathy for the difficulties as a K star. -pop, as well as demanding public awareness of celebrities’ personal freedom.
One netizen commented: “It seems like life as a K-pop star is demanding too much from public opinion.
Another person wrote: “She became a victim of the “kalguksu controversy” for the past year. Even now I still don’t understand why there is this useless controversy.”
However, there are people who think that Minji’s tone and attitude were disrespectful to the audience and it was right for her to apologize.
One internet user wrote: “Her tone and attitude were quite harsh during the live broadcast (even though she explained clearly). That’s why she had to apologize.”
In Korea, companies view artists as profitable investments. If an artist under their management gets involved in a scandal, the company’s image will be affected and the stock price will seriously decline.
For a Korean artist, image is very important. This is considered something Korean stars use to make money. If the image deteriorates in the eyes of the audience, it will be difficult to gain support.
Artists are public figures and influential people, so preserving their image is extremely necessary. Especially for a strict country like Korea, if an artist does something wrong, there is almost no chance left.
