Kwak Jung-eun apologizes for controversial remarks about Chang Kiha

Writer and broadcaster Kwak Jung-eun has issued a belated apology regarding her controversial "bed remarks" directed toward singer Chang Kiha 12 years ago. While the comments caused a major sensation on television at the time, she has since reflected on the media context of her language and its impact on the public, acknowledging her responsibility for her choice of words.

On the 18th, a video titled "What does a 48-year-old single woman do at night? Real night routines and my own-purchase honey items" was released on Kwak's YouTube channel.

Kwak, who recently replaced her bed with a super-single size, introduced her night routine while explaining the advantages of a motion bed. In a subsequent clip, she directly addressed the past controversy using the bed as a theme.

“I talked about beds in detail today, but the word 'bed' is very special to me,” Kwak said. “Twelve years ago, I appeared on a variety program and made a remark about a male celebrity, saying, 'This is a man who makes me curious about how he is in bed.'”

She went on to explain her position, recalling how numerous articles and critical comments followed her remarks at the time.

In 2014, during a variety show, Kwak had commented on Chang Kiha, saying, “When he is sitting still, he is silent and unresponsive, but once the song starts, he has an explosive energy,” implying that watching him evoked private imaginations.

While the comment was consumed as a way to increase the variety show's buzz at the time, Kwak revealed that she has come to view that expression differently after the passage of time.

Explaining her professional background, she said, “For 13 years, most of my life was spent as a monthly magazine reporter, and even at a media outlet that writes many sexual articles in Korea, I lived as a reporter writing many sexual articles.”

She explained that she belatedly realized there is a difference between expressions commonly used in magazines and the language delivered to the public through broadcasting.

“I had a low understanding of broadcasting, and I failed to realize that expressions tolerated in magazines might not be tolerated in broadcasting and could cause discomfort because a much larger audience watches television,” she reflected.

In particular, Kwak emphasized that the meaning of language is not determined solely by the speaker's intention.

“I have come to understand that regardless of my intention, there is a situation and context at the moment of utterance, and it is the responsibility of the speaker to delicately check even those factors,” she stated.

She then bowed her head, saying, “Even if it is late, I offer my sincere apologies to those who found my expression uncomfortable back then.”

She also mentioned that her remarks from 12 years ago are still being brought up on social media. Kwak noted, “There are still people who comment, 'I wonder how this woman is in bed?'”

She added, “Life is too short to continue hating someone over something they said on a variety program 12 years ago. I hope you can let go of your anger and listen to the various stories I tell now.”

This apology is seen as more than just a clarification of a single past remark; it is an instance of her reflecting on how the meaning and impact of language can change depending on the media and situation in which it is placed. It is significant in that she revisited her linguistic responsibility by acknowledging that the same expression can be received in entirely different ways in the different media environments of magazines and broadcasting.

By revisiting her past remarks after 12 years, Kwak Jung-eun showed a desire to personally put an end to the old controversy by reflecting on her language from a modern perspective rather than focusing on the buzz of that time.