The recent passing of actress Kim Sae Ron has sparked a heated debate on the scrutiny public figures face when expressing their grief. Actor Lee Jong Hyuk, who shared a touching tribute to Kim, faced unexpected backlash for a simple statement he made in his post.
Just two days after Kim’s passing, Lee took to social media to honor her memory, writing, “Sae Ron... my dear junior from the neighborhood who shared my birthday. Rest in peace. I never got to buy you a drink... I hope you’re smiling wherever you are.” However, some netizens criticized him for mentioning alcohol in light of Kim’s past DUI incident, deeming it inappropriate. Comments questioning his choice of words flooded in, suggesting alternatives like ‘meal’ instead of ‘drink’ given her history and advising public figures to be more cautious.
Nevertheless, many defended the freedom to mourn without being policed. Some questioned the need to censor even tributes, while others expressed disappointment that grief was being subjected to public judgment.
When actor Shin Hyun Joon paid tribute to the late Lee Sun Gyun, sharing a social media post featuring a memorial portrait and a white chrysanthemum at the location of his passing, he faced criticism for ‘sensationalizing’ the death. The negative feedback led Shin to delete the post to avoid further controversy.
Similarly, singer Harim faced backlash for sharing an illustration titled “The Revenge of the Muses” as a tribute to Lee Sun Gyun, with critics deeming it irrelevant to the situation. Harim chose to remove the post in response.
Composer Kim Eana and actor Lee Ji Hoon also reflected on Lee Sun Gyun’s passing, discussing online discourse and public judgment. However, their messages were met with accusations of moral superiority, resulting in the deletion of their posts under pressure.
This latest episode surrounding Kim Sae Ron’s tribute exposes a troubling trend where sincere expressions of grief are dissected and condemned. The intense scrutiny surrounding celebrity tributes, from who mourns to how they mourn, reflects a disturbing shift in public expectations.
At its essence, mourning is a personal journey. Yet, in an age of social media outrage, even honoring lost loved ones has become a contentious issue. As public scrutiny escalates, the question looms: has grief now lost its intimacy in the face of relentless public scrutiny?