Jung Hae In Lambasted by Netizens For Standing Front Center in Baeksang Winners Photo

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• Oh dear, not good news for JHI. I will choose to believe he was asked to stand there. I really hope some one will come out and clarify exactly what had happened on the night. Let's hope JHI was told to stand there as opposed to the other.

  But yes, I can see why people are upset by this. It would be like seeing a picture of the Oscars. With Merryl Streep on one side and Tom Hanks on the other and a new come upper who's just won the popularity award in between them. Hhhmmm, it would look a little out of place.

  • I watched the video screencapped in the post (I can't paste on here so can't link it) and almost everyone around him was glancing at him from time to time and you see Jo Seung Woo looking and pointing at him to Kim Nam Joo who reacts...the whole time you can tell he's aware of how awkwardly everyone is acting around him but he tries to ignore it. I'm the type of person that focuses closely on nonverbal communication and the whole vibe was sort of off. This is just my perception though.

    Even if JHI was told to stay in the middle by staff, he should have at least realized it was somewhat disrespectful based on seniority and knowing the Daesang winner usually stands in the middle. He's a born and raised korean who has been in the industry for years and he's a grown man so he knows what's up, he should have just moved if not for manners but at least to avoid this sort of controversy that many koreans don't play with. I doubt he would have got in trouble with staff or anyone else for doing that. I say all this as a JHI fan, I'm not happy to see him dealing with this sort of controversy just when he's getting some real shine but he kind of messed up.

    It's pretty dumb that he hasn't apologized yet either, whether he thinks he was right or not, he and his agency need to think about their audience that can have an influence on his career. This is PR 101.

    • what a bummer! a very short lived career.He was drown with too much camera flashes and media attention.Now back to reality JHI.

    • Damn his agency not doing the job!

      From a clip I could see even senior Kim Nam Joo moved to the side away from the centre...Also saw another clip when senior actors were standing together Kim Soo Hyun gingerly slide to the side. I think its something that's ingrained in the k-culture.

      Hopefully JHI can get out of this with not much harm.

    • I totally agree with you; So well observed and expressed. I was shocked from it. As you said, he was born and raised there, and not new to the industry.
      Shocking too - that he has not apologized yet.

  • Wow...all these negative comments can make an ordinary person miserable, not to mention a person in spotlight. No wonder why we have more celebrities committed suicide these days. It’s really sad for our society only pays attention at negativity and not positivity. One short video clip wouldn’t possibly tell the whole story. It can be edited in many ways, good or bad, depending on What story a person wants to tell. Please do not assume, unless you were there on the stage with JHI. The latest article stated that the Baeksang Award ceremony officials actually assigned him there. He followed their instructions.

• No koala sis.Many koreaboos are saying what you are saying.Maybe it would not blow up as it has elsewhere, but if such a thing happen at a wedding anywhere in the world or at olympics or any major conpetition.It would set tongues wagging too.

  Here is the deal, look at it this way, where have you seen a gold medal winner standing in the side and the bronze medalist standing in the middle in a group photo or where do you see the bridemaid standing in the middle with bride and groom at the back or in the sides.Or birthday girl/boy somewhere in the background on his birthday.Its the same concept.Its awkward and takes the spotlight off the one who is meant to be the highlight of the event.Its just common sense really.He won a fan voted award while the Daesang Winner was awarded by a panel of judges.If anyone who didnt watch the show or doesnt know the names of the winners..you would think he is the one who won the daesang just by looking at the picture.

  Dude is 31, not a rookie actor(he been acting for six years) just that popularity has found him late, and has already been in the military so he should be aware of these things without being told.That excuse that he was told to stand there doesnt hold water because Kim Soo Hyun was told the same thing back in 2014(when he won a similar award) but when it came for the photo session.He moved to the side to allow the spotlight to be on the one who won the more prestigious award.I dont hate the guy, and it will taint his image a bit, so I hope his agency's PR fix this instead of giving unnecessary excuses.He is lucky he is oppar, if he was a female idol or actress he would have been buried by now.

  • From what I read, his agency is not helping at all by saying "he was told by staff to stand there" or "the controversy is caused by the burden of being a top star". I'm laughing hard at the second excuse, since when has he become a top star!?

  • Exactly this has nothing to do with seniority or with Korea. A gold medal winner is supposed to be in the center. It’s as simple as that.

  • Agree. He was born and bred in Korea and there is no reason for him to be unaware of cultural sensitivity. And putting aside the cultural thing, this is pure common sense.

  • Yes, he is 31 and by SK entertainment norms that is reaching seniority age. Most previous breakout IT boys were famous by 24-25 years old. That’s why I hear many comments that he is desperate to be the top star. His agency is known for media play though and that’s not helping.

• He must admit that he made a mistake and apologize. Then move on, let his PR team do the rest.
  He stood in the center were strange, not only by korean standart. He won popularity award, not the most prestigious award that night. Its common sense that the winner of most prestigious award get the center spot. And that unwritten rule for every photo-op in any event. The most important person, standing at the center, and the rest get position accordingly

• Oh wow! Do this people know that photoshoots at events are directed? People are getting dumber. Hate makes people not only to become lonely but dumber as well.

  • I dont think who ever directed him..(if at all thats true) would have had it against him if he made way for the person who is supposed to be there.He was wrong.Full Stop.Even his fellow recipient of the same award Suzy(who is way more popular and has more mega star power than he does) stood at the back.Just acknowledging his mistake is all he needs to do.Over the years following k-ent , I have seen many careers go down the drain due to arrogance and poor PR.The ones who apologise after a controversy(when they are clearly in the wrong) dont do it becaise they are lacking pride or stupid or afraid of nets, but its PR 101 to try to diffuse a controversy as fast as possible instead of letting it hang for too long.

    • Oh Yah over a photoshoot. Just for the spirit if hate. Go on! I wonder how old are you guys are. ?

      This scandal is so dumb. Too much for heirarchy and whoever are more influential should be at the front blah blah...

      I only know JHI a week ago because of some people spreading hate which is beyond my understanding. I think in Korea and anywhere, jealousy is serious disease. Whoever gets a little success, some losers will try to put the person down. ?

    • That is a sarcatic smile btw. And another ??

  • Don't defend the wrong! wrong is wrong! period!

    • Jung Haein didn’t commit a crime. A traditional positioning of winners was broken in a photo opp that’s all. In fact, it is a nice change. All these reactions of condemnation is excessive.

  • Poor oppa being victimised, boo hoo...

• And, people are being his agency to stoop down at people’s childish and dumb antics. Geez double face palm. tsk tsk... How old are these kids spreading this controversy? 12, 14 and I wonder how old are those people buying this so-called controversy? If they are mature beings, I can’t imagine how lonely are they.

  • nope. I doubt the one who think that it wasnt appropriate for him to take the center position were kid or lonely people :) Let be real here, he did something wrong. if you watch the video, you'll understand why netizen roasted him. his agency's "staff told him" already debunked. the staff said they didnt ask him to.
    I dont think this will ruin his career, he's a man after all. But he's better apologize than denied ..

    • The person writing is not even attempting to understand the situation. Even I understand hierarchy. There is practically no reason he can stand there. The accepted thing if directed to is to decline, act humble and give way to the seniors.

      I am not even taking the Netizen side. I am saying as another Asian who understand about hierarchy. And tbis was an industry event. If he doesn't understand the concept of sunbae and hoobae he would have been living under a rock.

      I am slightly shocked myself he sidelined JSW. Like " wow " way to go making your seniors notice you for the wrong reason.

• Wethner he was distracted or he did it on purpose, it's a very dumb thing to do. Koreans pay a lot ot attention to levels and seniority, how did he miss this? Though I don't think it's just his fault, the staff should have insisted that he move, it is their job to make sure people are in their positions. Last year photo does seem generally better organized, with everyone already holding their awards, too. I think this year they tried not to have all the women on one side and the men on the other, and it became messy for them.

• Maybe they should have coordinated in height all the shorties in the front and the tall ones at the back. Or how about colour coordinated? Black on the left add the coloured dressed in the middle and those in white on the side. Or in alphabetical name order? See where Im going with this? What a great awards night to be marred by who was standing where. Seriously how pedantic. But I guess it’s enough to rarck up a frenzy in Korea and I hope no one is losing sleep over this.

  • Great idea, you should suggest this next time you take pictures with your company's senior executives or at your friend's wedding.

    I'm sure at least ONE person in Korea is losing sleep over this, lol.

    • Lol In NZ that’s how we roll! ?

    • Really? *genuinely curious* It's ok in NZ for guests to be in the center front of photos while the bride and groom stand off to the side? Or the new employee takes the center spot in a company group photo and the CEO stands in the back?

      I thought common courtesy is an universal concept.

    • And guess what? Goes to show that he would of been directed to stand there by the producer of the show for the group photo. If the fellow awardees had an issue at the time umm I’m sure they would not hesitate in reminding him that he was stepping on their toes or raining on their parade so to speak? For JHI I guess it’s common sense to oblige if you’re told to do something. Now that you mentioned it and you’ve kindly reminded me of what would we do here in NZ; is that I can honestly tell you hand on my heart when a photo is taken it is the photographer who will direct everyone into a position. We’re kinda like our sheep you know and the farmer whistles to the sheep dog to guide us. I guess it’s universal; same thing must have happened at the group photo shoot for this? And don’t misconstrue that Im referring to the awardeees as sheep. I used it as an analogy. Furthermore we’re pretty laxed down under must be all that fresh country air tinged with the sweet smell of cow gas! ?

  • Its the cultural sensitivity here and we have to respect that. And ofc, a little use of common sense on Jung Hae In's part would save him from a lot of troubles.

• LOL at least each year there is still one person who wears bright colors. Last year it was that young lady in lovely fuschia dress, this year was that cute little girl in red dress

  • OMG I didnt notice that.so cute.These people need to understand that there are muted colours like dark blue, purple, wine red.If they dont want too much distraction and colour clashing.It still works.you know bring on those spring colours to reflect the season.They dont even need to have prints or patterns on them.Just add some flash of colour than just standard black and white.But they are pretty people so they can get away with the boring dress code.

    • The little girl brighten up that gloomy picture. They should've put her in the middle, nobody would've mind

• He won popularity award, he should've stand right beside suzy as they won the same category, but oooohhhh boyyyyyyyy

• Nope, while they were trying to set up for photos, he should have ignored what was said and fumbled around creating chaos by trying to determine just what his place should be. Does he go by rank, age, gender, experience? This is NOT a bride and groom shot but a group photo!Yep, I am being sarcastic because at times like this you stand where you are told to. Btw, I am always in the front row because I'm a shorty. Does that make me disrespectful to those behind me? Non verbal cues in a milling group are likely to be missed so I'm inclined to cut him some slack on this one.

  • Fancams show he was being gestured to move around but ge didn't budge. Korean culture is also about saving face so of course people won't go tell it to his face that he needs to move and give his place to the daesang winner. It's common sense. He grew up in Korea and has been in the industry for 6 yrs already. He should have known

    • Agree with what you said.

  • he's the tallest though. if this picture displays all shorty at front line while the tall ones at the back, irrespective of age or seniority then no one will bother.