Lee Sung Min and Shin Sae Kyeong have reportedly cleared up any misunderstanding following a moment that sparked online backlash at this year’s Baeksang Arts Awards.
According to reports on May 16th, Lee Sung Min has personally contacted Shin Sae Kyeong the day after the awards ceremony to apologize for comments that had unintentionally stirred controversy online.
Earlier in the night of the Awards, Shin Sae Kyeong took home Best Supporting Actress for Humint, beating out fellow nominee Yeom Hye Ran, who had starred alongside Lee Sung Min in No Other Choice.
Later, when Lee won Best Supporting Actor for No Other Choice, he joked during his acceptance speech that he had been especially nervous because of Yeom Hye Ran’s nomination, adding, “When Hye Ran didn’t win, I even cursed under my breath,” which drew laughter from the audience.
The comment later sparked criticism online from some viewers, who accused the veteran actor of being disrespectful toward Shin’s win. People at the ceremony, however, said the atmosphere in the room had been lighthearted, with Yeom Hye Ran herself joking, “I’m Yeom Hye Ran, who just lost,” to ease the mood further as she later appeared onstage as a presenter.
Industry insiders noted that Lee is widely known for treating coworkers warmly both on and off set, adding that while some may have found the joke excessive, the backlash had grown far beyond the original intent.
Rather than ignoring the situation, Lee reportedly reached out directly to Shin to explain himself and apologize for any misunderstanding. Sources said the two spoke openly and cleared the air, with Shin reportedly responding that she did not view it as a major issue and felt awkward receiving such an apology.
The actor’s agency executives also reportedly contacted Shin Se Kyung’s agency separately to express their apologies and resolve any misunderstandings.
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