YG Apologizes Amid Kang Dong Won’s Cover Up Controversy On Pro-Japanese Family History
YG Entertainment issued an official apology Friday after criticisms broke out concerning an alleged cover-up on actor Kang Dong Won's pro-Japanese family history. The management agency owned up the allegations concerning their requests to take down some controversial posts related to the issue. Yet the label remained mum when it came to actually confirming Kang Dong Won's controversial family history.
YG Entertainment admitted they took necessary steps concerning the YG artist's personal information. The company explained that the Korean movie portal site Max Movie posted revealing information about Kang Dong Won's personal background which they promptly requested to be taken down from the message boards "upon review." They also took the necessary steps to prevent the personal information from leaking out through media outlets, portals, and blogs.
"It appears a complaint was filed through a netizen who happened to share the article, which heightened the issue even more," stated YG Entertainment, according to allkpop. Indeed, the issue regarding Kang Dong Won's pro-Japanese family history resurfaced after a netizen revealed that she received an email from the actor's representative that threatened legal warnings for "defamation of character" because she shared an article from Max Movie to a blog. The netizens didn't take long before they stirred an uproar online. The online community recalled back to a 2007 interview with Chosun Ilbo wherein the "Too Beautiful To Lie" actor took pride in his great-grandfather Lee Jong Man as someone "amazing" and flaunted the old man's title "the CEO of Daedong Industrial Company." According to allkpop, the actor's great-grandfather Lee Jong Man belonged to the infamous pro-Japanese Chinilpa group, financially backed the creation of comfort women and acquired wealth in the process.
Incensed netizens then claimed they didn't diss Kang Dong Won because he happened to be related to a Chinilpa member but because the actor "spoke highly" of him. Now the netizens claim they're enraged because the actor's side or YG Entertainment is "threatening legal action for defamation of character." The controversy broke out just as South Korea celebrated their March 1st Movement or Independence Declaration Day.
