Musical actress Ock Joo-hyun has reignited the "Ok-jang-pan" controversy that erupted in 2022, stating that she still seeks an apology. Meanwhile, Kim Ho-young, the individual at the center of the dispute, has shared updates from his time abroad without issuing an official statement.
In a recent interview, Ock revealed, "I have never received an apology," regarding the past incident. She expressed her disappointment, noting, "I heard words of thanks for withdrawing the lawsuit, but an apology and gratitude are two entirely different matters moving forward."
She continued, "If the post was intended to promote a friend's father's flooring business, the meaning should have been clearly explained to prevent public misunderstanding. In that process, advertising contracts were canceled, and collaborators also suffered damages." >
Ock confessed, "I have never been okay. I only went on stage pretending to be okay," adding, "As the 'Ok-jang-pan' image followed me, it affected my work, and I eventually made the choice to step away from productions for everyone's sake."
These remarks have reignited the controversy following Ock's recent comments on a fan communication platform, where she suggested that her "biggest regret is withdrawing the lawsuit."
On the other hand, Kim has not released an official position regarding Ock's remarks. On the 6th, he posted photos taken in New York, USA, on his SNS with the short caption "NY." While the photos show him visiting streets and restaurants in New York, there was no mention of the past controversy or Ock's recent statements.
The conflict between the two stemmed from a controversy surrounding the casting for the musical 'Elisabeth' in 2022. At the time, Kim posted on SNS, "The phrase 'Asari-pan' (a mess) is a thing of the past. Now it's 'Ok-jang-pan' (Ock's flooring)," which many interpreted as a targeted remark toward Ock.
Subsequently, Ock sued Kim for defamation, but both sides concluded the matter by withdrawing the lawsuit rather than continuing the legal battle. At the time, Kim's side explained that the post was intended to promote an acquaintance's flooring business.
However, nearly four years after the incident, the controversy is resurfacing as Ock publicly discloses the damages she suffered and her emotional state at the time. As Kim has not released a separate official statement, attention is focused on how the lingering conflict between the two will be resolved.
