Ha Jung-woo apologizes for controversial fan nickname comment on SNS

연합뉴스 / 2025-07-21 13:17:32

▲ This photo of South Korean actor Ha Jung-woo is provided by Showbox. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, July 21 (Yonhap) -- Actor Ha Jung-woo has issued an apology after facing backlash for leaving an inappropriate comment in response to a fan’s request on social media.

According to the entertainment industry on Monday, Ha recently responded to a fan with the surname Choi who had asked him to create a nickname on his social media account. In reply, Ha wrote “Choi-eum-je” — a Korean term that sounds similar to “aphrodisiac” — drawing criticism from online communities for its suggestive nature.

As controversy grew, the actor deleted the comment.

His agency, Walkhouse Company, issued a statement the same day, saying, “We sincerely apologize to the individual who may have felt uncomfortable due to our artist (Ha Jung-woo)’s SNS comment.”

The agency added, “The actor has personally reached out to the fan to apologize and has spoken with them directly. We promise to be more cautious and thoughtful in our communication with fans going forward.”