'I Am SOLO' star Yeong-suk opens social media to criticism

Yeong-suk, a participant from the 28th season of 'I Am SOLO', declared a "hate comment free zone" on her social media on the 21st. While welcoming advice and criticism, she warned that she will delete or block any comments that make her feel uncomfortable.

Yeong-suk, a participant from the 28th season of 'I Am SOLO', has established a so-called 'hate comment free zone' by publicly stating she will accept criticism and malicious comments directed at her. While she took a strong stance by welcoming everything from advice and nagging to criticism and condescension, she limited the space for comments to a single designated post. Following her recent appearances on variety shows that have increased her public exposure, this move appears to be an intention to respond directly to the evaluations surrounding her.

On the 21st, Yeong-suk posted on her social media, "I am ready to hear your opinions." She continued, "Even though there are many places to leave comments elsewhere, coming to my SNS to speak to me is a sign of affection. I will take it to heart," adding, "Advice, criticism, nagging, and condescension are all welcome!" The photo she shared included the phrase, 'Hate comment free zone. Prejudiced people like you are welcome.' She drew attention by adding, "A feed where I tell you to say what you want to say, but I have even more to say."

Her declaration was not merely a statement of enduring malicious comments. Yeong-suk confessed that her life has not always been smooth and that she has experienced significant pain from trusting others without suspicion. She wrote, "As someone who has already experienced 'spitting on a kind face' in real life, I have practiced being sharp-tongued to protect myself and can also say hurtful words." She revealed both her tendency to trust others easily and her current self, which has learned to use sharp words to protect herself.

She also expressed clear thoughts regarding her attitude toward others. Yeong-suk emphasized, "If you want to be treated with contempt, you can treat others with contempt; if you want to be respected, you can respect others; and if you want to be understood, you can be understanding." She further pointed out those who use abusive language toward her, stating, "All of you throwing abusive words are using private accounts. I know you are all ashamed of yourselves." While declaring she would accept criticism, she sharpened her stance against those who hide behind anonymity to attack others.

She also shared lengthy reflections on her childhood and current interpersonal relationships. Yeong-suk recalled, "When I was in school, I thought everyone in my class was my friend. They were all my people to that extent." However, she noted that as she lived, she realized that others may not be like her, that there is no need to cater to everyone, and that people's personalities do not change easily. She explained that the background and environment one lives in also cannot be ignored in terms of its influence on human relationships.

Regarding those who use terms like 'dim-witted' or 'lame' to describe her, she showed a relaxed attitude. Yeong-suk wrote, "I welcome being called dim-witted. I am dim-witted. Please approach me while looking at me that way. Then we will become close." This is interpreted as an intention to acknowledge even the perspectives of those who view her that way, rather than trying to forcibly change their evaluations. She added, "I will continue to live in this world pretending not to know, without weighing pros and cons or calculating. I find that comfortable," expressing her intent to stick to her way of life.

She also expressed a will to find lessons even in regretful relationships. Yeong-suk said, "Life is about learning a lot even within regretful relationships; you just don't do it again next time." Her thought is that rather than changing her entire personality because she was hurt by others, she can learn through experience and simply avoid repeating the same mistake. It also shows an attitude of accepting criticism in a way she can handle instead of avoiding it.

However, there were clear conditions attached to the 'hate comment free zone' created by Yeong-suk. She explained the reason for providing a space for criticism, saying, "You have the freedom to misunderstand or criticize me. That is why I made this." She added, "I have no intention of changing your thoughts, but I made a place for those kinds of people." The purpose is to provide a space where individuals can express their opinions rather than attempting to persuade and change their views.

She also presented her own principles for managing comments. Yeong-suk stated, "Since this is also my personal page, if I feel uncomfortable, I will delete or block [comments]. That is also my freedom, so do not ask why I am deleting them." While she intends to read every comment left under the designated post, she will delete or block other malicious comments. This is closer to a declaration that she will listen to opinions within the scope she has set, rather than an unconditional acceptance of all criticism.

She also added her thoughts on the tendency to seek attention. Yeong-suk countered, "If attention-seeking is a disease of wanting to be loved, then yes," and "Is it not attention-seeking that everyone is doing SNS, even though it's been so long since I've hung out with people while raising a child, and I was happy?" She suggested there is no need to view the act of revealing oneself and communicating with others through social media as a special problem. She viewed SNS as a space where an individual becomes the master of their own life.

Yeong-suk gained recognition through her appearance on the divorcee special of the ENA and SBS Plus variety show 'I Am SOLO', and she also appeared in the KBS Joy and MBC every1 variety show 'Contract Marriage', which first aired on the 28th of last month. 'Contract Marriage' is an observational reality program where men and women who desire marriage experience a marital relationship in advance through a contract, examining the meaning of marriage and realistic partnership in the process.

The image of a reality show participant shown on broadcast provides familiarity to viewers while simultaneously becoming a subject of various evaluations and interpretations. Yeong-suk's recent declaration can also be seen as a movement to actively respond to the gaze directed at her. However, accepting criticism and allowing personal attacks without limit are two different matters. Attention is focused on what kind of opinions she will hear in the space she personally designated and how she will accept them into her life and broadcasting activities.

Read the original (Korean)