CNBLUE's Jung YongHwa Writes Letter of Apology for Recent Grad School Admission Issue

[showminomoney.livejournal.com]

A follow up to this post.

After it was confirmed that CNBLUE’s Jung Yong Hwa is the idol being investigated by police for being accepted into Kyung Hee University’s graduate school, the singer took to Instagram to apologize about the issue.

"First and foremost, I sincerely bow my head in apology. Whatever’s the reason, whatever’s the truth, I know it’s all my fault and I am deeply reflecting.

Whatever you say about me, I will accept it all. To my family, members, and fans who have always believed in me, I’m very ashamed and genuinely sorry for disappointing you all.

Whatever I say, whatever I post, I understand it may be difficult for it to get through to you, but I would like to apologize once again.

I’m sorry for taking up your precious time with this letter."

Update: FNC's Statement

FNC Entertainment released an official statement, saying, “First, we would like to apologize for the whole issue regarding Jung Yong Hwa’s interview for the doctoral program at Kyung Hee University.

“Jung Yong Hwa and a representative from our agency recently got investigated by police for his admission to the doctoral program in Applied Arts (focusing on the research and development of practical music production). The school suggested multiple times that Jung Yong Hwa should apply, so he applied during the additional recruitment period in January 2017 and got accepted.

“Because idols and other popular celebrities get busy with performances, the agency manages all their schedules, and the celebrities just follow them. In Jung Yong Hwa’s case, we had to take care of all the business and communication related to the preparation and submission of his graduate school application.

“Up until this became an issue, we thought he got into graduate school through a normal interview process, and Jung Yong Hwa thought the same way. He followed our schedule and attended the interview.

“Jung Yong Hwa got investigated by police and even though we had absolutely no intentions of violating school regulations, we’re very sorry for causing controversy. Ever since this became an issue, Jung Yong Hwa has been on a leave of absence from graduate school.

“To clarify, Jung Yong Hwa applied for the Applied Arts doctoral program back in winter 2016 but failed due to an error in the application process. However, because the program was facing a lack of applicants, the school suggested he apply again during the additional recruitment period in January 2017. The professor in charge of the program also wanted more applicants.

“The additional recruitment period that took place in January 2017 wasn’t competitive, so almost all applicants got accepted. It’s not that Jung Yong Hwa got into a difficult program through preferential treatment. We don’t have a reason for him to do that, especially since he’s a popular celebrity whose career depends on public reputation.

“If we had known earlier that individual interviews were against school regulations and that interviews were required to be held at school, we would’ve adjusted Jung Yong Hwa’s schedule accordingly to free up enough time for him to go. We never would’ve done anything to harm his reputation.

“As an agency, we are taking responsibility for this issue, and we apologize once again for causing controversy.”

Source: jyeffect0622 via Soompi | hei.hankyul.com via Soompi

Edit: Updated the post with FNC's official statement

Comments

[donaldjdrumpf.livejournal.com]

Lock ha up!

[tungatunga.livejournal.com]

Poor YongHwa, having his life ruined by others again /s

And letter, I'm so so sorry, for something but I won't name it.

[chikage-chan.livejournal.com]

As a PhD student that has studied her ass off to get to this point in life, this whole thing and his apology make me mad.

Like, I just don't get why the heck would someone accept getting into grad school under these shady circumstances, when you have no desire of deepening your knowledge or any intention of doing research. He doesn't even need this degree just to put on his resume, it's not like it will be decisive to him getting work. Any way I look at it, it's just a dumb way of shooting yourself on the foot.

Edit: I just read that he might have done it to postpone his military service. Well, he just double murdered his career then lol

[msgrottesca.livejournal.com]

I just read that he might have done it to postpone his military service. Well, he just double murdered his career then lol

that's like 99% of male idols in grad school or university of any kind tbh LOL. Look at the work load and then look at their work schedule and then consider how it could be even slightly possible for all these dudes to be finding time to complete that work and magically graduating top of their class... I don't buy it tbh.

[chikage-chan.livejournal.com]

True, i bet you could count on one hand the ones that actually want to study, which is really sad to me. I wish i could read Korean just to be able to read their final thesis lol

[torontok.livejournal.com]

Related but Kyuhyun who was at this same university funnily enough) had his Masters thesis go viral on some academic site for being really well-written

[chikage-chan.livejournal.com]

Nice! I respect a fellow researcher that knows what he’s doing! ^^

[ceecile.livejournal.com]

Did he write it himself though

[torontok.livejournal.com]

Likely so.He scored high in placement tests and had a good reputation for attending most of his classes and was one of the idols with better high school grades.

[premonitioner.livejournal.com]

ain't an apology until you actually say what you're apologising for, m8

[torontok.livejournal.com]

He's not going to directly admit to anything while there's a police investigation underway, it can be used as evidence against him.

[staaan.livejournal.com]

some ppl are acting like the fact that this is not surprising means it's not a big deal and i find that gross tbh. ppl bust their asses to get into doctoral programs and the fact that this asshole didn't show up for not one but TWO interviews and still got accepted is insane

[dorawa.livejournal.com]

omg for real? TWO INTERVIEWS? lmao I'm just... wow

[yxerin.livejournal.com]

yeah, just bc something's normalized doesn't mean that ppl should be complacent abt it

[turtles-tszx.livejournal.com]

I got blocked by people on twitter for this. He's so stupid tho, he should have just gone to the interview or at least put an effort to do everything by the book.. at least he could pretend he did everything and wasnt aware of the special treatment.

Taec should have conduct class on how to manage ur image and gain public interest to the male idol..

[nana-the-dwarf.livejournal.com]

Isn’t it an amazing coincidence how it’s never his fault? What rotten luck, dang it!

[gdithero.livejournal.com]

he didnt know what his mom was doing re: stocks. he didn't know what fnc was doing re: admission. at 28 years old you'd think at this point he'd try to handle his own life.

[ashdevilrun23.livejournal.com]

Right? Smh

[frothies.livejournal.com]

lol sounds like a typical idol for me.

like everything's already been arranged and handed to him, so he won't even bother with the details.

[baekpedaling.livejournal.com]

Someone (not trying to call them out or anything) said he was smart in the other post but if that was true he wouldn't have been caught up in multiple messes. Smh

[sub-divided.livejournal.com]

I stand by what I said about Jong Hwa.

In fact this post confirms what I said in the other post, he was recruited by the school.

Now, whether it's right to let your management agency handle the complete logistics of your college application process, including scheduling the interviews, is another thing. Most people manage those details themselves. I don't think this has anything to do with Jong Hwa's intelligence however.

[tungatunga.livejournal.com]

His aunt is professor at that Uni, and early reports claim she was the one supposedly interviewing him at FNC.

[msgrottesca.livejournal.com]

Honestly... I feel like most idols in prestigious programs / schools got in this way and it's extremely frustrating LOL because honestly the application process etc in Korea is SO intense, there's simply no way all of these idols have the time to do it ethically even if they do have the smarts or talent. Most idols are in very good schools despite barely even attending high school?

Their schedules are way too packed and I have read too many stories of male idols entering school, literally never doing anything, and passing - like companies are basically paying off schools to help post-pone their military enlistment. It's fucked up and it's classist and it needs to stop - I'm sure some idols really earned it but I think it's probably rare.

Anyway, he's almost 30 so I'm rolling my eyes at him claiming he was a sweet innocent baby with no clue any of this was happening LOL. People would not accept that story from a female idol, I guarantee.

[dorawa.livejournal.com]

Seriously, it's almost insulting to actual students there. Like can you imagine being a student there who busted your ass for years in undergrad, high school, standardized testing, volunteering and extracurriculars... you get accepted to a great school and then see this shit? I'd be sooo heated.

[vintage-boom.livejournal.com]

I’d love to know how the ones are legit are taking their programs do it. It’s gotta be one class at a time. Especially the really big groups.

Exo has two members actively working on masters/PhD (I think publicly sm claims 3 of them are enrolled but idk) but they also have like 0 solo activities and don’t do much variety stuff. Even then it’s gotta be on a very part time basis.

[dior-chic.livejournal.com]

I completely agree. And I'm at the point I'm reallyyyyy annoyed at male artists/idols trying to delay or postpone enlistment

[callherblondie.livejournal.com]

I don't think most idols are in top universities, very few actually. There are some actors who do/did go to SKY/KAIST/Ewha but not many idols. On the other hand, in the US, it's common for celebs to use their money and fame to get into top schools if they want (many who do end up dropping out anyway so they just waste someone else's spot for a year or two of never going to classes). Even if they get really high SAT scores, they hire private SAT coaches and tutors, but most don't even bother with that. And a lot of them once they have been accepted, if they want a little extra academic shine, arrange with administration or faculty to "assist" with research on some professor's project so they can get their name published on the final paper, despite having done nothing or not much in the way of contributing to it -- it's a win-win situation for all parties, I suppose, the professor gets attention for their paper too.

[msgrottesca.livejournal.com]

I guess it probably only makes it into the news when they enter a prestigious school, creating the illusion of a majority, although I feel like a lot of the big three idols are in fancier schools, so I can’t help but wonder if there’s a connection there...

This whole scandal just takes me back to Taeyang’s illegible, improperly sourced “if only I were black” thesis that looked like it was written by a 13 year old lol...

[milkmp3.livejournal.com]

100% agree

[tungatunga.livejournal.com]

Early reports claimed that his aunt is professor there, and she was the one who "interviewed" him at FNC, now she is barely mentioned and Dispatch put its spin at it as it was normal procedure that was twisted by internal conflict among faculty, smh. And people buy it as if Dispatch wasn't caught trying this same with Yewon scandal until video was released.

[anconeous.livejournal.com]

Fucking up stocks and fucking up grad school admission. Duuuuuuuude...

[dorawa.livejournal.com]

As a master's student considering a PhD in the faaar future, I'm actually kind of peeved. Studying for the GRE, writing my reports, hounding for letters of rec, the money and waiting and finally getting in... and this dude fucks up multiple times and STILL gets "in" to "study." It's all so unfair. I can't imagine being someone who wanted that spot and not getting it because of this.

[xxhna.livejournal.com]

this is quite annoying. it's so hard to get into school and yet privilege. what a bitch.

[torontok.livejournal.com]

I don't fault male idols for delaying enlistment but jfc, at least have the decency to go through the application process properly or apply for a cyber university programme like many do. Coasting your way into a place like this is reprehensible

[pearlychoco.livejournal.com]

Whatever I say, whatever I post

*facepalm* you know what you did, and yet, you're not even mentioning why you're writing this letter in the first place. such an ass. first the stocks, and now this?

it'll be interesting to see whether or not he'll be continuing on with his concert later this week or cancel it (which is probably for the better)

[modestgoddess79.livejournal.com]

Dumb move all around, assuming that like most male celebs he is in school to delay his military enlistment but what's the point when he will have to go anyway in 1-2 years anyway?! Like just go, do your service and stop wasting the University's time. If he actually was serious about studying he could still do it when he got out. I'm disappointed cause I loved him on Running Man and his acting finally improved but he keeps getting in scandals. Well there are violent criminals with careers so I guess I shouldn't worry too much.

[milkmp3.livejournal.com]

lmaoooooo

[minho-lover.livejournal.com]

im dead, yall were right it was fish face yonghwa bahaha

[horichansenpai.livejournal.com]

Idk what to think of that dispatch interview going around rn that supposedly shows that yonghwa/fnc's innocent but I'm rme that fans are really sticking by it and insist he's not guilty at all bc lol

As a tired postgrad student I'm really pissed off, I used to admire him but he's been disappointing recently, I give up now :/

[tungatunga.livejournal.com]

With Dispatch people forget how they put similar "explanation" with Yewon scandal and how it blow into their faces when video of incident was realised. Plus early reports mentioned that Jonghwa aunt is professor there and she was the one who visit him at FNC.