Shoo, an ex-member of the iconic S.E.S, recently faced yet another moment of public scrutiny as her presence was notably blurred out on two major platforms: the popular show 'Masked Singer', and during SM Entertainment’s grand 30th-anniversary concert.
During the recent broadcast of SBS’s 'K-POP The Beginning: SMTOWN 30' on January 28th, the spotlight was on the trailblazing girl group S.E.S, the pioneers of K-pop's first generation. Various SM artists reminisced about how S.E.S had been a source of inspiration for their own musical aspirations, paying heartfelt tribute to the legendary group. However, despite the respectful homage paid to her group, Shoo's face was obscured in all the archival footage shown.
The decision to blur Shoo's image stems from her involvements in a past gambling scandal which came to light between August 2016 and May 2018. She was found guilty of participating in illicit gambling activities amounting to a staggering 7 billion KRW (approximately 4.8 million USD) across 26 instances in Macau and other overseas locations. In February 2019, she was handed a six-month prison sentence, coupled with two years of probation and 80 hours of community service.
Due to the repercussions of her controversy, Shoo was subsequently added to the blacklist of entertainers by KBS and MBC. While SBS does not maintain an official blacklist, it seems that her contentious past led to her yet again being shunned from public appearances.
This recent incident isn't the first time Shoo has faced such exclusion. During an episode of MBC’s 'Masked Singer' on January 26th, former Cleo member Chae Eun-jung made an appearance, mentioning her debut days alongside Fin.K.L and S.E.S. However, when archival S.E.S footage was broadcast, Shoo's face was once more obscured as she remains prohibited from appearing on MBC.
The repeated blurring of Shoo's image on both MBC and SBS has ignited significant debates amongst viewers. Additionally, Shoo was not the only ex-SM artist to be edited out in 'K-POP The Beginning: SMTOWN 30'. Shinhwa's Hyesung, who had a DUI charge, and former Super Junior member Kangin, who faced both assault and DUI allegations, were also subject to edits.
The ongoing saga surrounding Shoo's blurred appearances has certainly attracted widespread attention among audiences, as discussions continue to unfold about her exclusion from these prominent platforms.