Musical actress Ock Joo-hyun has broken her silence on the so-called 'Ok-jang-pan' controversy, revisiting the incident four years after it first erupted. Expressing frustration over the lasting stigma, she stated, "I withdrew the lawsuit, but I never received an apology.'
On the 8th, Ock posted a lengthy message on her SNS, noting, "It took a long time to write this," as she revisited the 'Ok-jang-pan' controversy that shook the musical theater industry in 2022.
The controversy began during the casting process for the 10th-anniversary production of the musical 'Elisabeth' in 2022. When Ock and Lee Ji-hye were double-cast, suspicions of 'nepotism casting' were raised by some, citing their close friendship and the fact that they were under the same agency.
During this period, Kim Ho-young posted on SNS, "The days of chaos are old news. Now it's 'Ok-jang-pan' (floor mat),'" sparking rapid controversy as many interpreted the remark as a jab at Ock.
Ock eventually sued Kim for defamation but later withdrew the lawsuit. At the time, Kim's side explained that the post was intended to promote a floor mat business run by an acquaintance's father. Ock dropped the legal action because she did not want to escalate the conflict further.
In her recent post, Ock explained her decision at the time, saying, "I withdrew the lawsuit because I did not want to escalate the controversy further," adding, "I decided not to speak of this matter anymore after hearing the explanation that 'I never once targeted you' and 'it was a post to promote a friend's father's floor mat business.'"
However, she confessed that the emotional wounds persisted long after the matter was settled.
"The frame did not disappear just because time passed," she stated, adding, "If the term 'Ok-jang-pan' truly was not directed at me, I want to ask why so many people thought of me, and why the damage and wounds caused by it were never publicly explained."
While she did not mention a name directly, she has essentially raised public doubts regarding the explanation provided by Kim's side at the time.
Ock touched upon the long-term impact the controversy had on her image and career, saying, "I hope my name is no longer consumed as an object of ridicule through the term 'Ok-jang-pan.'"
She also clarified why she had remained silent until now.
"I held my tongue because I did not want to cause harm to the production, the production company, or my colleagues," she explained. "Now, as I am not affiliated with any production or company, I judged that this is a time when I can speak as the individual actress Ock Joo-hyun."
Previously, Ock drew renewed attention by mentioning the incident on a fan communication platform, making remarks to the effect of "I have never received an apology" and "My biggest regret is withdrawing the lawsuit." As these comments spread online, she has now provided a more detailed stance via her SNS.
Meanwhile, Kim has not released a separate statement regarding Ock's remarks. On the YouTube channel 'Too Much Kim Ho-young' released on the 7th, he shared his experience of suffering from burnout while preparing for the musical 'Remplica,' but made no mention of the 'Ok-jang-pan' controversy.
As the 'Ok-jang-pan' controversy—which was considered effectively settled—resurfaces following Ock's direct statements, attention is now focused on whether Kim's side will issue a response.
