South Korean singer and actor Ahn Jae-wook (안재욱) has once again stirred controversy with comments about drinking. Appearing recently on MBC's variety show Radio Star, Ahn shared details of his recent parenting life and discussed alcohol with the hosts. He even joked that he works hard to care for his children so he can “rightfully” go out for drinks in the evening. His remarks have since sparked renewed debate.
Ahn appeared on Radio Star on November 4, alongside Jung Young-joo (정영주), NMIXX member Lily, and comedian Yoo Byung-jae (유병재). This marked his first appearance on the show in approximately four years. Discussing his recent life, he revealed that he has been focusing on his family and children, making an effort to spend more time with them whenever he is not working on a drama.
Ahn currently has a daughter in fourth grade and a six-year-old son. Seeing his active involvement in parenting, host Kim Gura (김구라) playfully teased him, saying, “It looks like you're working so hard at parenting just to drink, aren't you? Are you trying to earn some points?” Another host, Yoo Se-yoon (유세윤), followed up with a laugh, asking, “So you can get your freedom at night?”
Unexpectedly, Ahn responded with a smile, saying, “I need to be justified.” He then shared his parenting routine: “First, I prepare dinner for the kids, wash the dishes, and then put them to sleep. After that, I say, 'Dad will be back in a bit.'” What started as a lighthearted joke about drinking by the hosts quickly drew renewed attention from netizens due to Ahn's past experiences.
Ahn has a history of two drunk driving incidents. In 2003, he was involved in an accident while driving under the influence after a cast dinner following a drama shoot. In 2019, after attending a drinking gathering during a regional schedule, he was pulled over by police and failed a breathalyzer test while driving back to Seoul the next morning, resulting in the suspension of his driver's license.
Furthermore, in 2013, Ahn underwent emergency surgery for acute cerebral hemorrhage during a trip to the United States, a situation that was at one point life-threatening. He previously revealed that the medical expenses for his hospitalization and treatment amounted to approximately 500 million Korean won.
Despite this, in February of this year, Ahn appeared on the web variety show Shin Dong-yup's Bitter Brothers, which focuses on drinking, and openly discussed his love for alcohol. This appearance drew criticism from some netizens at the time. Now, his renewed discussion of drinking on a program, coupled with his two past drunk driving incidents, has made his recent remarks particularly noteworthy.
Although the conversation on the show was initially a joke set against the backdrop of his parenting life, Ahn's history of drunk driving has led to differing opinions among netizens regarding his frequent public discussions about drinking. Consequently, his joke about “working hard at parenting to be able to drink at night” unexpectedly became a focal point of discussion.
