Noise and truth off the screen: What is left behind by the dating rumors between actors Heo Nam-joon and Hong Yi-seol? > News

This dating rumor started with reckless suspicions that spread mainly through online communities and SNS. As the popularity of Heo Nam-joon, who is playing the role of Cha Se-gye in the drama ‘Brave New World’, soared, the public spotlight also began to fall on Hong I-seol, who played the role of secretary, who appeared in the drama with him. A past connection between the two, in which they studied at the same university and took classes together, was discovered, which soon led to hasty speculation that their relationship was more than just colleagues. In the entertainment industry, there are frequent cases where the public's affection for the lead actor of a box-office hit turns into excessive exploration of his private life, and this incident is also interpreted as one of the side effects of the explosive popularity of dramas.

As speculative reports and public speculation continued, Hong Yi-seol eventually addressed the situation by speaking out directly through her SNS. In this statement, she went beyond simply denying the dating rumors and also revealed her camaraderie and concern for the damage that might be inflicted on her co-star Heo Nam-joon. In particular, Hong Yi-seol clearly drew the line, saying, “We are just good colleagues who have been friends since college, and the dating rumors currently floating around are groundless,” emphasizing that any further reckless speculation would be a huge burden on the actors. Her firm yet polite response quelled the public's curiosity and at the same time made us think again about how unfounded rumors are a huge obstacle to an actor's acting career.

In the media ecosystem, an actor's private life is often consumed as much as the success metrics of his or her work. The fact that “Brave New World,” in which Heo Nam-joon is appearing, is garnering national attention by ranking unrivaled in viewership ratings among currently airing mini-series, proves how much the public longs for the success of this drama. However, it is difficult to say that this popularity is a healthy fandom culture when it is not simply a praise for the actors' acting skills, but is replaced by gossip about their personal relationships. The fact that Hong Yi-seol personally came forward and dismissed the dating rumors should be understood as going beyond a simple personal explanation and appealing to the public about the unnecessary emotional exhaustion that actors in the profession have to go through.

Even though this dating rumor ended as an incident, we still have homework left. As viewers, the public has the right to enjoy an actor's performance and evaluate the completeness of the work, but that right does not guarantee the freedom to invade the actor's private space. Hong Yi-seol's quick and clear response not only sounded the alarm about other rumors that may arise in the future, but also served as an example of how important it is for the actor himself to clarify his position. In the future, I hope that a mature culture will be established in which actors are evaluated only for their acting skills and work itself, and their private lives are fully respected as their own.