Kim Ji-hoon Under Fire for 'Astonishing Physique' Comment About Kim Hye-soo

The new drama “It’s Not an Affair Problem Anymore,” starring Kim Hye-soo (김혜수), Kim Ji-hoon (김지훈), Jo Yeo-jeong (조여정), and Kim Jae-cheol (김재철), recently premiered. To promote the series, the four leads appeared on a YouTube program, where a comment made during the interview unexpectedly ignited controversy. Many netizens believe Kim Ji-hoon focused on Kim Hye-soo’s physique, leading to accusations of “objectifying women” and drawing widespread criticism.

During the program, Kim Ji-hoon shared his thoughts on working with Kim Hye-soo, stating, “Her physique is incredibly slender and long. Watching you, I kept thinking to myself that I need to study the human body more diligently… because you possess a truly astonishing physique, which left a very deep impression on me.”

The comments quickly sparked heated debate online. Many netizens found it disrespectful to publicly discuss a veteran actress’s physique, while others questioned his focus on appearance rather than acting, calling it “too bizarre” and “uncomfortable to watch.”

In response to the compliment, Kim Hye-soo did not accept it directly, instead calmly replying, “What should truly leave a deep impression is the acting.” Her remark skillfully redirected the conversation back to the work itself, earning widespread praise from netizens for her high emotional intelligence.

After the relevant clip went viral on social media, many international netizens also commented, saying: “It’s truly disrespectful to keep talking about Kim Hye-soo’s physique right in front of her.” “She didn’t take those words as a compliment, but directly shifted the focus back to acting; that’s so cool.” “Kim Hye-soo has worked for years to break societal stereotypes about women’s bodies, yet he publicly objectified her, which is disappointing.”

Days after the incident, it also sparked lively discussions on international forums such as Reddit. One netizen commented, “Does he really not think before he speaks? The entire interview was super awkward.” Another lamented, “Lately, every time I see news about him, it seems to be bad news.”

However, as of now, Kim Ji-hoon has not yet responded to the controversy.