K-netizens Criticize Jung Joon Won’s Awkward Appearance on You Quiz on the Block While Costar Gong Hyo Jin Steps Up to Defend Him
Last week was the premiere of MBC drama A Bona Fide Killer about a housewife and former assassin Gong Hyo Jin balancing her domestic life with picking up the gun again to protect her family. The leads were on the usual promo tour which unexpectedly went awry incurring the ire of K-netizens when male lead Jung Joon Won was seen as awkward and not properly engaged in his appearance on variety show You Quiz on the Block. He struggled to answer questions and at one point could not even recite lines during an acting challenge. Female lead Gong Hyo Jin has stepped up to defend Jung Joon Won explaining that he was so nervous that he actually vomited after taping, and that he’s an introvert and this was his first time on a variety show. But a top critic poured fuel on the fire as well by writing that real introverts try not to ruin public moments by being even more awkward and will try hard to participate. He intimated that people use “being an introvert” as an excuse or shield for not making an effort and having a lackluster attitude. He did not name Jung Joon Won but this article the same week as his controversy is pretty clear who he is criticizing. Overseas fans are 100% on Jung Joon Won’s side and consider this the same toxic K-netizen demand for performative effort over personal limitations.
Is it really so hard to believe that someone could be nervous, especially when you are not used to something like that? I really don’t understand it. I think the the role he plays on A Bona fide Killer is absolutely charming and swoon worth. Poor guy really doesn’t deserve the criticism.
This is like a female version of Agent Kim Reactivated. Like previously popular zombie and survival game genres, I’m seeing this new trend. There may be more similar productions coming out since international viewers love it. It’s profitable.
I’m completely indifferent to how actors perform in variety shows. Their main jobs are to deliver convincing stories in dramas, not to please variety show audience. I also found many variety shows are frivolous and boring.
As an introvert, I can say that I’ve faltered many times during public presentations. I don’t think his awkwardness on a public variety show is so hard to believe?
Wow this time they are being big ole jerks. I remember there is another actor who is introverted as well who broke out a few years back and mentioned he still struggles with it. It was a romantic comedy about gangsters. I think he is brave for trying. Who is to say he will not improve over time. Clearly he has a problem and that critic is just full of poop. Acting with peers as opposed to a public audience is so different. But I know that most artist whether performers or actors are forced to promote through variety tv and at times it seems stressful because we know the hosts love to pick on their guests for laughs. It can be tricky.
I bet the next time if he comes on acting out an extrovert persona and giving people what they want, people will call him fake.
I think people were already hating on him because they disliked his casting for a character that was described as handsome in the webtoon. They also disliked having him paired with Go Youn-jung in Resident Playbook – the difference in looks and whatnot. Lots of people were more than ready to jump on him. I’m glad the variety hosts and Gong Hyo-jin stood up for him.
Sure he isn’t webtoon-male-lead handsome, but he’s well-cast as a warm and loving dad and husband.
Yes, I heard about this too, that he was getting bullied for his looks. I feel bad for these types of actors/actresses that don’t fit the mold and standard for judgmental critics. Then to bully him for being awkward in a variety show that most actors don’t even really want to do anyway? Poor guy!
I’m kinda on their side though. I don’t like seeing beautiful woman being paired with average man. And since this drama came from webtoon that highlight her husband as really handsome, it’s kinda strange choice of cast isn’t it?
As someone who doesn’t like any attention on me, I totally understand.
I saw a lot of hate korean comments about him, and the fact they hate him for no reason. Like so many hate comments discussing his looks.
And they acting like anyone was confident at their first show appearance. It’s normal to be nervous.
Bullying culture is still here.
So I watched the clip and kinda get the hate. His version of nervousness isn’t fumbling through the challenge but he straight up doesn’t do it. They’re asked to do acting challenge, saying line “what is your age?” In aarcastic , warmth tone, etc
When he was asked to do it, he just close his eyes and stay still, like trying to pretend everything doesn’t exist. Maybe it’s just less media training rather than personality problem. But people brought up he isn’t the first introvert celeb, other introvert celeb do their best when asked to do things
Now it seems his condition wasn’t optimal that day, sadly
I mean, what you’re describing just sounds like he was probably so nervous that he shut down? Some people freeze under pressure. He might be more than just a typical introvert.
Yeah he should probably not go to these shows. When I watched it actually it was fine the first time since the reaction of yoo jaesuk and others made it funny. The second time he did it he shut down again and gong hyojin took over the challenge, that was probably the reason for criticism. Since she is big senior it became ‘he did nothing while she works hard’
I wonder if there’s a choice for actor to not go to those shows to promote their work, cause he was fine in other show with more intimate (like two people only) or reality type content
Currently loving this drama after the high-octane Agent Kim Reactivated and the hilarious The Legend of Kitchen Soldier! JJW is perfect as the gentle, supportive husband who absolutely adores his badass wife. lol. No, he doesn’t look like 20-something Brad Pitt, but he’s definitely handsome from the right angles. Honestly, what do fans expect a married dad to look like anyway? 😂