Park Soo-hong and Kim Da-ye deny flaunting wealth in luxury goods controversy

Comedian Park Soo-hong and his wife Kim Da-ye have clarified that high-priced items featured on social media, including an 8 million won pair of shoes, were gifts rather than personal purchases. The couple explained that the items were received as gifts from an acquaintance and a shoe company following their daughter Jae-yi's modeling work.

Comedian Park Soo-hong (56) and his wife Kim Da-ye (33) are defending themselves against a "social media wealth flaunting" controversy involving high-priced padded clothing and luxury shoes worn by their daughter, Jae-yi. The couple has asserted that there was no "impure intention" behind the posts, clarifying that the items were gifts rather than products they purchased themselves.

The couple expressed frustration as their attempt to share photos expressing gratitude for the gifts unexpectedly spiraled into a controversy over ostentation. They further noted that the disappearance of the posts was misunderstood as an intentional deletion, leaving them in a difficult position.

The controversy began on the 7th when Kim Da-ye posted a photo of Jae-yi wearing a padded jacket on her Instagram Story. When it was revealed that the jacket was a high-end Moncler product valued in the 1.4 million won range, some netizens criticized the couple, questioning whether they were flaunting excessive consumption through their child's clothing.

This sparked a resurgence of interest in past posts. A photo from June showing Jae-yi in shoes worth approximately 8 million won was brought back into online discussion, intensifying the backlash. While the photo had not caused issues at the time, it was re-examined due to the high price of the product, leading to criticism directed at the couple by malicious commenters.

Another factor fueling the controversy was the misunderstanding surrounding the removal of the posts. Some reports used the term "bit-sak" (meaning a "lightning-fast deletion") to describe the sudden disappearance of the photos, leading to speculation that the couple had removed them out of fear of criticism. The couple found themselves at the center of unnecessary rumors as both the display of expensive goods and the subsequent deletion became subjects of debate.

In response, Park Soo-hong stepped forward to clarify. He stated that the padded jacket in question was not purchased by the couple but was a gift from an acquaintance. In a telephone interview with a media outlet, he explained, "The padded jacket was not something our couple purchased; it was a gift from an acquaintance. My wife simply posted a verification photo out of gratitude." He explained that a post intended to express thanks for a gift was interpreted as an act of flaunting expensive consumption.

He also addressed the disappearance of the posts, stating it was unrelated to any intentional deletion. "Instagram Story features disappear naturally after 24 hours. People misunderstood the natural disappearance as us deleting them ourselves," he lamented. He noted that the platform's default function, where stories vanish after a set time, was being interpreted as a hurried deletion to avoid controversy. Kim Da-ye was also reported to be flustered by the unexpected spread of these misunderstandings.

Regarding the 8 million won shoes featured in the June post, Park Soo-hong provided a separate explanation. Those shoes were also not luxury items purchased by the couple. He explained, "Our daughter served as a model for a shoe advertisement, and the company was kind enough to provide them as a gift." He noted that while the products were gifts resulting from her modeling work, the lack of context in the photos led netizens to speculate about the source of the items, resulting in criticism.

However, it remains to be seen whether these explanations have sufficiently persuaded the public. Online reactions suggest otherwise, with many feeling that neither Kim Da-ye nor Park Soo-hong has addressed the core of the issue.

The fundamental question is why the public is angry at Kim Da-ye's posts of luxury goods. While Park Soo-hong explained that they were gifts and the posts were merely expressions of gratitude, the core of the public's displeasure does not lie in whether the items were bought or received as gifts.

This is the point the couple appears to have missed. Park Soo-hong and Kim Da-ye have previously been major news subjects due to legal battles involving his older brother and sister-in-law embezzling Park's income, as well as his estrangement from his parents. Because of these events, a sentiment of sympathy had been established, as it was understood that he had suffered losses of at least several billion won.

However, the couple's subsequent actions have been seen as eroding that sympathy. While they have showcased a residence worth billions of won, Kim Da-ye's social media has frequently exposed a lifestyle of luxury fueled by the significant income the couple earns from Jae-yi's frequent sponsorships and advertisements—income that most adults could only dream of. This has created a sense of disconnect.

Furthermore, whenever issues arise—such as controversies regarding their behavior while boarding planes for overseas travel—the couple has received negative reactions, leading to a significant decline in public favor.

Ultimately, the essence of this luxury goods controversy is not whether the couple spent their own money or received gifts. Regardless of whether they spend their own funds, the core issue is that the display of immense wealth by the couple, particularly involving a young daughter who has not even entered elementary school, causes discomfort and a sense of relative deprivation.

The answer lies in the couple being more cautious with their social media activity. They would do well to note past instances where flaunting wealth resulted in more loss than gain. While expressing gratitude for a gift is a beautiful gesture, since the act of giving and receiving gifts is a private matter, perhaps that expression should remain private as well.

Park Soo-hong and Kim Da-ye married in 2021 and welcomed their daughter, Jae-yi, in 2024.

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