Lawmaker Cheon Ha Ram Suggests It May Be More Appropriate for Jang Won Young Not to Attend Late Kim Ha Neul's Funeral
During a recent Reform Party leadership meeting at the National Assembly on February 13, Lawmaker Cheon Ha Ram shared his perspective on the ongoing debate surrounding the potential visit of IVE member Jang Won Young to the funeral of the late Kim Ha Neul. Cheon expressed his opinion, stating, “I may be overstepping, but I personally believe that it would be more appropriate for the idol not to attend.”
In further remarks, Cheon elaborated on his stance, cautioning, "There is a possibility, however small, that young elementary school children might develop dangerous thoughts if they were to wonder if their favorite idol would attend their funeral in similar circumstances. Thus, I believe this matter should be handled with great caution."
Addressing the controversy surrounding Kim Ha Neul’s father's request for Jang Won Young to visit, Cheon emphasized the importance of understanding the grief of the bereaved family. He stated, "We cannot expect grieving parents who have lost their eight-year-old child to conform perfectly to societal expectations. I urge people to show empathy and refrain from making hurtful comments."
The tragic incident that sparked the debate occurred when eight-year-old Kim Ha Neul was murdered at an elementary school in Daejeon on February 10. The perpetrator, identified as 'A,' a female teacher, confessed to luring Kim Ha Neul into a multimedia room under false pretenses and subsequently inflicting fatal injuries before attempting to take her own life. Postmortem results confirmed that Kim Ha Neul succumbed to multiple injuries.
In tribute to Kim Ha Neul, who was a devoted fan of Jang Won Young, IVE sent a condolence wreath and photocards to her funeral. The father of the late girl shared that his daughter's dream was to emulate Jang Won Young and expressed the hope for the idol to visit the funeral to bid farewell.
The public request from Kim Ha Neul’s father for Jang Won Young to attend the funeral sparked a wave of mixed reactions on social media, with some urging the idol to pay her respects in person and others defending her right to mourn privately.
Amid the swirling debate, Kim Ha Neul's father clarified his intentions, emphasizing that his request for the idol's presence was not a demand but a heartfelt desire to honor his daughter’s admiration. He lamented the mischaracterization of the situation as coercion and expressed the pain caused by sensationalized media coverage.
As the discussions continue, the emotions and differing perspectives surrounding Jang Won Young’s potential visit to the funeral of Kim Ha Neul exemplify the complexities of mourning and remembrance in the public eye.