More on Hyosung's misuse of the word democratisation

[frantastic.livejournal.com]

Articles are posted in chronological order





May 14th

Article: Jun Hyosung's 'democratization' statement leads Ilbe to bulk buy SECRET albums

The comment section is a mess and has been completely taken over by Ilbe users. I'll just translate random ones left by them and update in the morning if anything changes. The screencap is basically ilbe users showing proof of their purchase of SECRET albums ("Two albums weren't enough so I bought everything they had", "I bought $100 worth of albums", "I bought 70 albums")

1. [+47, -7] Anti-communist idols SECRET... Totally in a good mood today, I have a feeling it's going to be a great day. Yah!! Feel so good!!

2. [+44, -5] Who you accusing of bulk buy? We're buying songs that touch our hearts and move our souls. My mother is listening to their song right now and shedding tears of joy. She says even Na Hoon Ah (veteran singer) has nothing on them.

3. [+34, -1] Ilbe goddess Hyosung~jjang!!

4. [+32, -2] General Jun Hyosung!


source: NetizenBuzz


May 19th

Pann: Jun Hyosung cried at today's pre-recording

Hyosung looked really nervous when SECRET came in but a lot of people cheered her on. Right before the song started, Hyosung was turned around and didn't seem like she could face the crowd. Sunhwa was eyeing the crowd and patting her on the back so that nobody would notice. Eventually, she had to leave to get her make up fixed...

1. [+151, -19] I feel bad for her but I don't really sympathize because it's karma

2. [+150, -37] She's the one that screwed up anyway

3. [+120, -27] Yeah she made a mistake but I can see why she'd cry considering it's the first time she's facing her fans and the public since what happened

4. [+37, -13] I can't believe people are shielding her in this... I'm surprised people aren't completely through with her after what she said.

5. [+24, -5] She brought it upon herself. Whether or not she knew what the word meant, using it in such a context is just asking to prove that you're crazy. And her clarification is even funnier.. How could you not know what the word democratization means? She's living in a democratic country and she doesn't know that?=_=

6. [+21, -4] Well what she said is unforgivable. This is not a time to be asking for sympathy.

7. [+19, -6] Jun Hyosung messed up but netizens are just as screwed up for treating her as if she committed murder. Any time a boy group screws up, you're all rallying for support telling people to back off because they apologized. Yeah, well Hyosung apologized immediately after too but nobody's mentioning that, are they?

8. [+16, -2] She probably read the comments in her democratization articles. It's probably a lot of psychological stress on her but it's not like any of us can defend her because she made the mistake herself... We all need to just be careful and watch what we say.


source: NetizenBuzz


May 21st/22nd

Things haven't been so great for SECRET after Hyosung's controversy with her unintentional misuse of the word democratization. Though the idol star has already explained herself and apologized, not everyone is sympathetic.

According to reports, some of the requests SECRET received from various university events were canceled. TS Entertainment revealed on May 21 that Sogang University, Hanyang University, and Sungkyunkwan University had all withdrawn their offers for SECRET to appear as a guest performer at the schools.

A rep from Sogang University commented "After the controversy arose, we discussed with the agency about SECRET's appearance... However, with the next day being 5.18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, the agency as well as the students of the university all felt uncomfortable with the group's appearance, and thus arrived at this decision."

However, despite this setback, the agency also added that there are other college events that the girls will still be appearing on.

~~

Article: [Exclusive] After effects of 'democratization controversy'?... Sekang University, Hanyang University, Sungkyunkwan University cancel their events with SECRET

1. [+1,736, -85] So hard to earn popularity but it takes only a moment for it to all collapse down

2. [+1,532, -130] Whether or not she's an ilbe user doesn't matter. I do feel bad for her but she made a grave mistake using the word in that context. Especially with the times lately... I pity her. She ruined not only herself but her group too.

3. [+1,202, -70] I don't see the point in paying idols several thousands just to come and perform anyway. That all comes out of the tuition students pay and it's not fair.

4. [+1,099, -106] SECRET really screwed up this time. Seokang, Hanyang, Seoul, Yonsei, and Korea... three days ago before 5.18, the students held a demonstration at seoul station. Those colleges are famous for their hatred for Jun Doo Hwan.

5. [+935, -83] It was the students of those colleges that achieved democracy through their protests and demonstrations. It'd be ridiculous for them to even allow SECRET into their campus.

6. [+798, -159] Colleges, wake up. Invite artists with brains to come and perform, not kids who just shake their butts in underwear

-

Article: Seokang University reps "We canceled SECRET's invitation... The 'democratization' controversy was too pressuring"

1. [+891, -46] Hyosung's image was positive before this which is why the controversy has only reached the extent it has now. If it had been T-ara, they would've been disintegrated into thin air

2. [+618, -24] There's no second chance for celebrities.. Once you screw up, it's remembered forever.

3. [+570, -35] I bet she's really getting yelled at by her CEO~~~

4. [+578, -104] Hyosung isn't the only one at fault here but the entire youth generation. I see kids in games all the time throw around terms like 'rape' so freely. Whenever they lose, they say nonchalantly, "I was raped that game!"

5. [+223, -41] How dare Hyosung joke about something that people shed blood and sacrificed their lives to protect... She's the one that receives the benefits of their hard work. It doesn't even matter whether she's an Ilbe user or not, just the fact that she thinks of the word in that term is shocking.

6. [+220, -41] Korean colleges were the representative figures of democracy. I can see why they'd be turned off seeing Hyosung at a festival they're all meant to enjoy. They should just reflect for the time being.



source: allkpop + Netizenbuzz

May 22nd

After her multiple apologizes, Hyosung stepped on stage to apologize yet again.

She stood on stage at KAIST University, one of the universities that hadn't canceled their invitation for SECRET to perform.

Before the girls started their performance, she said, "Before we perform, I want to apologize." The majority of the crowd was supportive of her, shouting, "Don't! You don't have to! It's okay!"

Their support made Hyosung tear up, and she had to swallow back tears before she continued, "I'm really sorry that I worried you because of my rash words recently. As a celebrity, it was a very bad mistake for me to use a word that's been wrongly twisted on the internet. I'm reflecting on my wrongdoing. I'm going to study and work hard to keep getting better. I'm going to work harder today because I'm so sorry, so please support us. Thank you."


source: allkpop + sportschosun1

Hyosung's second apology dates from May 20th btw

Comments

[toshi830.livejournal.com]

[+19, -6] Jun Hyosung messed up but netizens are just as screwed up for treating her as if she committed murder. Any time a boy group screws up, you're all rallying for support telling people to back off because they apologized. Yeah, well Hyosung apologized immediately after too but nobody's mentioning that, are they?

This truth though

[iznanassi.livejournal.com]

"7. [+19, -6] Jun Hyosung messed up but netizens are just as screwed up for treating her as if she committed murder. Any time a boy group screws up, you're all rallying for support telling people to back off because they apologized. Yeah, well Hyosung apologized immediately after too but nobody's mentioning that, are they?"

Personally I think the response is entirely warranted as it's not ok that she used that word, it was incredibly stupid and there's really no excuse for what she did. At the same time this netizen is right, where was this response after Khun's drunk driving scandal? After that same Khun attacked Block B for a simple misunderstanding.

[imyoona.livejournal.com]

I'll never get over Khun going at Block B like that when he was super disrespectful about the earthquake in Japan. And he did that BEFORE the block b thing happened.

[fantaesticbaby.livejournal.com]

i wish they'd piss off. she used the word wrongly, made a mistake and apologised.

It's so true that if she had been a male idol, people would have been desperate to excuse her, but because she's female she's getting so much more hate.

W/e at least Secret are getting album sales out of this.

[gathyou.livejournal.com]

I agree with some of the coments. She did a big mistake and she's not going to be forgotten soon, especially with such a sensitive topic. She should have been careful (or more attentive in class). But she apologizes, I guess she's thinking a lot about it. And some netizens are overreacting.

[rylee900.livejournal.com]

She made a genuine mistake and seems genuinely sorry for it. It's a bit much from netizens at this stage.

[supplanter.livejournal.com]

Especially since they haven't managed to dig up anything else on her to draw this out... unlike with T-ara, of course (rightly or wrongly, in that case). I'm not sure yet that it's going to be as bad for Secret. Yet.

[footballfina.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... I may not fully understand WHY it was so offensive but I also totally respect their right to feel outrage. In any event, this doesn't seem like it's going to go away soon.

Also, I disagree that male idols get away w/ things more, Khun's DUI caused 2PM's comeback to be TOTALLY scrapped and they waited basically a year after that to comeback. Everyone in kpop is judged harshly, the netizens (from what I've seen) take no prisoners regardless of gender *shrug*

[toshi830.livejournal.com]

Except JYJ fans defended them and have easily forgotten that they were caught beating saesang fans (minus Junsu I believe), or worse have gone with they deserved it. Afaik there was never a real big consequence of that case.

[girlsday.livejournal.com]

lol they're ruined

[swhyeon1991.livejournal.com]

Aww the video tho :c

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

I feel Secret will be fine since Yoohoo has stayed consistent in terms of chart performance. But yeah, Netizens will never forget and Hyosung will be haunted by this for atleast a year.

[cast-no-shadow0.livejournal.com]

Well yeah, but according to the article, that may be due to Ilbe buying up albums. :/

[love-etcetera.livejournal.com]

I understand nothing. Did she inadvertently affiliate herself with some extremist website or sth?

[stroplok.livejournal.com]

that seems to be the heart of the issue, yes

[miwa201.livejournal.com]

Meh, I never particularly liked her and this just proved that she's pretty dumb. Only here for Jieun and Hana.

I do think that netizens are exaggerating, but then again this is a pretty touchy subject that international fans cannot wholly understand. so idk.

[impatiences.livejournal.com]

idc about secret, but why the fuck is this even a thing? what?

everyone misuses a word once in a while, people need to stop acting so disgustingly high and mighty.

[jia-zhang.livejournal.com]

Can someone please tell me what this whole scandal is about, cuz I'm so confused. How would wrongly using the word "Democratization" in any way become a scandal??? I just don't get it,

[frantastic.livejournal.com]

http://omonatheydidnt.livejournal.com/11121369.html?thread=1089310425#t1089310425 and http://omonatheydidnt.livejournal.com/11121369.html?thread=1089336793#t1089336793 are two great comments explaining the issue.

Hope it helps!

[pentrue.livejournal.com]

It's her loud personality. It just comes off a fakery tbh.

[allthingsgood.livejournal.com]

There's no second chance for celebrities.. Once you screw up, it's remembered forever.

"There's no second chance for female* celebrities," there, fixed it!

[iznanassi.livejournal.com]

Actually no, I can think of several male celebrities who ruined their careers after a scandal....

....

Just not right now.

[rabu-parade.livejournal.com]

Mistakes happen. And she apologized. Can't everyone just move on?

[cast-no-shadow0.livejournal.com]

I can sort of understand the universities cancelling, especially with how touchy Korea is with public perception. Politics aside, she did not know what the word meant, and the scandal can also be the fact that she wasn't aware/educated enough to know that word. She doesn't seem to be a shining example of the education system right now, even if it has been blown out of proportion.

How I feel about this entire situation

[jesymphony.livejournal.com]

[realme21.livejournal.com]

aww the crowd was sweet. She apologized, it's time to move on.

[m-bianca.livejournal.com]

I think those universities made the right decision ,cause if she is associated with that group then of course she shouldn't be there . and if she is indeed ignorant of democratization's meaning ,which is said to be a middle school-level word, then it's really not a good look for a university to invite her.

[tempestdance.livejournal.com]

I just don't think apologizing in front of a group of crowds who paid you to be there and dance is just sincere enough.

according to KAIST they couldn't cancel their invitation because their legal contract would have required the university to pay them some fee even if they canceled (other schools were smart enough to put a clause that if Secret gets involved in any scandal or ruins their public image before the event they were allowed to cancel at no cost), and a lot of KAIST students were against the idea of bringing them, and TS negotiated that Hyosung will make a heartfelt apology before the event to make up for it.

This is just a business transaction, and I don't really think Hyosung's apology should be accepted here given the place and times. Just feels like she had to apologize before she can make money.

I think, as cliche it would have been, she should have apologized earlier on 5.18, the anniversary of Gwangju Democratization Movement, but TS is probably controlling her every statement right now. This was a poor decision on both company and Hyosung's part.

[shineebambi.livejournal.com]

She's actually also made several apologies on her twitter account and other social media sites before this one at the college so I do get the feeling that she really isn't affiliated with the groups and understands the gravity of the mistake she's made

[rikayla.livejournal.com]

that last video was super qt, and she seemed sincere <3
whatevs, i still love 'em all.

[shineebambi.livejournal.com]

Poor thing she really has seemed distraught at every public apparently since the scandal happened and has apologized over and over on social media sites. I really hope that secret can move on from what truly seems to be genuine mistake and may e this will help companies to let there trainees and artist spend more time in the classrooms so mistakes like this can be avoided in the future

[http://users.livejournal.com/_redneckbitchx/]

The article makes it seem like Secret was cancelled at three university events but it was only one. Sogang, Hanyang, and Sungkyugwan all took part in a Sports Day Festival.

The other universities might have had a say in whether Secret performed or not, but to me, Sogang seemed like were the main hosts or sponsors of the event because most of the students there were from Sogang and they got the best seats.

[fallingstarryuu.livejournal.com]

talk about news sensationalizing it to make it seem as if it's huge. apparently Secret are still scheduled to perform at three other university festivals, no big loss.

[yammychanchan.livejournal.com]

WhShe used a word in wrong context and apologized for it. They're human too. They should be allowed to make mistakes every once in a while. So calm yo tits people.