Naglabas ng pahayag ang South Korean actor/singer/host na si Lee Seung Gi upang personal na sagutin ang mga isyung kinasasangkutan niya.
Partikular na ang negatibong reaksiyon ng publiko sa kanyang pagpapakasal sa aktres na si Lee Da In at ang gusot sa pagitan nila ng dati niyang talent agency, ang Hook Entertainment.
Kahapon, April 12, 2023, nag-upload ng lengthy two-part statement si Lee Seung Gi upang ihayag ang saloobin niya sa mga isyung ikinakabit sa kanya.
Tila may himig ng pagtataka ang pahayag ni Lee Seungi Gi dahil noon lamang daw December 2022 ay labis-labis ang natanggap niyang papuri mula sa publiko matapos i-donate ang kabuuang 5 billion won (o 210,572,764 sa Philippine peso) na natanggap niya sa Hook mula sa kanyang hindi nabayarang kita habang nasa poder ng dating agency.
Read: Lee Seung Gi breaks silence on Hook Entertainment's "betrayal"; reacts to Hook's payment worth $3.8M
Pero bigla raw nag-iba ang ihip ng hangin pagkatapos niyang ianunsiyo ang nalalapit na pagpapakasal kay Lee Da In.
Read: Korean singer-actor Lee Seung Gi to marry actress Lee Da In on April 7
Pahayag ni Lee Seung Gi: “Last December, I received praise beyond measure from the public after donating all of the 5 billion won [approximately $3,781,500] of unpaid earnings I received from my former agency.
"Many people gave me support and courage. For about two months, I lived surrounded by praise.
"After announcing my marriage to my wife Lee Da In, the atmosphere was reversed.
"However, it doesn’t matter. Donations and kind comments are separate. Because I did not donate to earn the support of the public."
Paliwanag pa niya: “I always believe that the public is right. If the public doesn’t like something, there’s a reason.
"But occasionally, there are times when it’s unfair. For example, I mean when the public is misinformed."
EMBEZZLEMENT, PRODUCT PLACEMENT ISSUES
Ang tinutukoy ng Korean celebrity ay ang lumabas na report tungkol sa ama ni Lee Da In na may ganitong headline: "Embezzled 26 billion won [approximately $19,641,500] through stock price manipulation and mass produced 300,000 victims?"
Naghain na raw ng reklamo ang mga magulang ni Lee Da In laban sa limang media outles na nag-report ng fake news na ito.
Ani Lee Seung Gi: "This is clear misinformation. I don’t know where these reporters and YouTubers collected this information but it is completely groundless content.
"Lee Da In’s parents have filed a complaint to the Press Arbitration Commission against the five media outlets that reported this news. The reporters could not prove anything. And the Press Arbitration Commission has requested corrective reports from these outlets."
Sinagot din ni Lee Seung Gi ang ulat na gumamit siya ng product placement sa kanyang kasal.
Aniya, “In the past, an issue arose in the entertainment industry regarding wedding sponsorships. These days, it is my knowledge that most people are holding weddings using their own expenses. I also wanted to personally treat my guests to a good meal and express my gratitude without sponsorships.”
Nang tanungin daw ang writer ng naturang artikulo kung bakit hindi nito kinontak ang agency ni Lee Seung Gi para kumpirmahin ang report, binanggit ng singer-actor na isang nagtatrabaho sa media ang nagsabi sa kanya noon na hindi na kinukumpirma ng reporters ang kanilang istorya, partikular na ang controversial issues, para makakuha ng mas maraming page views.
Dagdag ni Lee Seung Gi, “I have a new agency now. And a manager I’ve been working with for 10 years. In the future, please contact me before writing articles."
Binanggit din ni Lee Seung Gi ang isang artikulo kung saan nakasaad na kailangan niya ng payo, sa halip na suporta, mula sa kanyang management dahil ang Hook Entertainment daw ang dahilan ng positibong imahe ng singer-actor.
Inalala rin ni Lee Seung Gi nang subukan daw siyang i-intimidate ng director ng Hook Entertainment sa pagsasabing iniimbestigahan ng isang reporter ang ama ni Lee Da In. Kinalaunan, sinabi raw ng director ng Hook Entertainment na naayos na nila ito ngunit nahirapan silang pigilan ang paglabas ng artikulo.
Pero nang aksidente raw silang magkita ng reporter na tinutukoy ng director, sinabi nitong ang Hook Entertainment daw mismo ang nag-request na siraan nila ang ama ni Lee Da In.
Sabi pa ni Lee Seung Gi, “Hook kept me in line like that.”
PUBLIC'S DISAPPROVAL OF HIS MARRIAGE TO LEE DA IN
Sa ikalawang bahagi ng kanyang statement, naglabas ng saloobin si Lee Seung Gi kaugnay ng hindi pabor na pagtanggap ng publiko sa pagpapakasal niya kay Lee Da In.
Ginanap ang pag-iisang dibdib nila Lee Seung Gi at Lee Da In sa private wedding ceremony na ginanap sa Grand Intercontinental Seoul Parnas Hotel sa Gangnam, Seoul, South Korea, noong April 7.
Read: Korean actor-singer Lee Seung Gi marries actress Lee Da In
Una, humingi ng paumanhin si Lee Seung Gi sa masugid niyang mga tagahanga na nasaktan sa kanyang desisyong pakasalan si Lee De In, sa kabila ng mga isyung kinasasangkutan ng mga magulang nito.
Hindi na bago sa South Korean fans ang maapektuhan, ang iba nga ay tinatalikuran ang kanilang idol kapag ito'y nagkarelasyon o nagpakasal.
Mensahe ni Lee Seung Gi sa kanyang fans: "First off, I’m sorry. I heard that you were very hurt due to the flood of articles coming out due to issues with my in-laws. One fan said that’s why they tried to stop my marriage.
"Once again, I bow my head in apology. Even my close acquaintances suggested breaking up, saying, ‘Think of your image.’ I felt frustrated. My wife did not choose her parents… so how can I say we should break up because of her parents’ issues?
"There’s a promise I made to my wife Lee Da In before and after our marriage. ‘In the future, let’s live while paying back.’ We will look after places that need help and look into ones in even greater need. We will keep this resolution regardless of malicious comments."
Pinasalamatan din ni Lee Seung Gi ang lahat ng mga dumalo sa kasal nila ni Lee Da In. Bilang pagtanaw ng utang na loob, nagdesisyon ang bagong kasal na gamitin ang natanggap nilang congratulatory money para sa mga kabataang higit na nangangailangan.
Saad pa ni Lee Seung Gi: "I have lived as a celebrity for 20 years. I have never spoken with this much emotion. Of course, there will be things to nitpick in this statement too. This post will likely become the starting point for more malicious articles.
"Despite all that, the reason I dared to have courage is…
"From after my dating news to our wedding, and to today, five days after our wedding, I’ve had a really hard time due to news mixed with mockery and degradation. On top of that, seeing malicious comments give strength to fake news made me discouraged.
"I do not ask for you to bless Lee Seung Gi’s marriage. Just please watch over us. I will live and share with Lee Da In. I believe that is the best that I can do."
Nauna nang itinanggi ng kinabibilangang agencies nina Lee Seung Gi at Lee Da In ang lumabas na balitang buntis diumano ang aktres kaya sila nagpakasal.