Five years ago, Jun Hyo-seong (전효성), a former member of K-pop girl group SECRET, addressed the issue of women's safety when out at night. Unexpectedly, a single remark she made has since become a persistent reason for some online users to attack her. Recent discussions have emerged in Korean online communities, with one post garnering over 56,000 views, drawing renewed attention to the issue.
The controversy dates back to 2021, when Jun Hyo-seong was asked, "What kind of Korea would be considered a safe country?" She responded that whenever it got dark and she was on her way home, she couldn't help but wonder, "Will I be able to return home safely today?"
Jun Hyo-seong's comments were an honest reflection of her feelings about women's safety at night. However, they were subsequently mocked by some online users, with sarcastic remarks continuing to appear in the comments section of her social media content years later.
Recently, online users noticed that even when Jun Hyo-seong posts ordinary daily content, the comment section still features malicious remarks referencing her past statement. Examples include taunts like "She only dares to be active during the day" or "She has to stay home after dark." Some even joke about her five-year-old statement again if the background of a video shows the sky getting dark.
The exposure of these comments has left many online users stunned, expressing difficulty understanding why a statement made years ago about women's safety is still being used repeatedly for attacks.
Some online users suggested that men might not experience the same fear as women when moving alone at night, which leads them to mock Jun Hyo-seong's past remarks. They believe that this prolonged mockery is no longer a simple difference of opinion but rather a form of personal cyberbullying.
Other online users defended Jun Hyo-seong, arguing that her remarks merely shared her personal feelings about night safety, yet she has been subjected to malicious comments for a long time, with even videos from years later not being spared. Some online users directly stated that criminal acts that create safety concerns for women should be criticized, not the women who raise these safety issues.
This controversy has once again ignited discussions on the Korean internet, leading many to lament that a single online comment can be unearthed years later and become a persistent reason to attack the person involved.
Currently, Jun Hyo-seong herself has not responded to this latest wave of discussion, and online users are watching to see if the malicious comments will continue.
