Multiple Korean celebrities have found themselves embroiled in controversy over their Instagram activities, with Melomance member Kim Min Seok, actor Kim Min Seok, and actor Kim Sung Cheol facing criticism for their engagement with a controversial Instagram account.
On January 22nd, Kim Min Seok of the vocal duo Melomance participated in a poll posted by an account known for sharing girl group performance videos. The account, boasting over 210K followers, has drawn criticism for allegedly manipulating footage by applying slow-motion effects to female performers’ videos, leading to accusations of sexual harassment.
The controversy expanded when it was discovered that actor Kim Min Seok, who shares the same name as the Melomance member, had commented, “Manchester is red… hmm…” on a post from the same account seven weeks ago. Kim Sung Cheol was also found to have participated in a poll two weeks prior.
Netizens expressed particular surprise at Kim Min Seok’s boldness in using his official account to leave a public comment. However, in his case, further investigation revealed crucial context: The comment was actually made in 2023 during a Coupang Play Series preview show featuring Kwon Eun Bi. The singer had worn sky blue, Manchester City’s signature color, while promoting the team. Kim Min Seok, a known Manchester United fan, was referencing his team’s signature red color in his comment.
After it came to light that the original post was from 2023 and the initial accuser had deliberately cropped screenshots to suggest sexual harassment, they removed their post, stating, “I didn’t realize it could cause misunderstanding and had no intention to fabricate information.”
However, the damage was already done, with the allegations spreading internationally and resulting in negative comments on Kim Min Seok’s personal account.
>> Watch Amasian TV on lgchannels.com: Now available on Channel 250 in the U.S. and Channel 263 in Canada or Amasian.tv.
