South Korean Actor Kim Sung-cheol Issues Apology Over Controversial Poll on K-Pop Idols

Actor Kim Sung-cheol has apologised for his participation in a survey that contained contentious images of female celebrities. An Instagram account known for sharing slow motion recordings of female idol performances shared the poll which provoked criticism for being disrespectful and improper towards the participating artists.

In a statement released on February 3rd Story J Company, Kim Sung-cheol’s agency acknowledged the error. A spokesperson explained,

“He understands the harm caused by his thoughtless action. However, it’s not true that he actively followed or consumed content from the account, as some have suggested. Upon realising the account’s controversial nature, he immediately retracted his vote.”

The agency expressed regret over the impact on other artists, stating, “We deeply apologise for the unintended consequences this may have caused to other performers and their agencies.”

In order to avoid any additional blunders, they also promised followers that Kim Sung Cheol will be more careful about his social media behaviour going forward.

In 2017, Sung-cheol made his television debut in Prison Playbook as Kim Young-cheol. His roles in Do You Like Brahms? (2020), Our Beloved Summer (2021), Hellbound (2024) and The Battle of Jangsari (2019) earned him praise.

With his 2014 debut in Puberty, Sung-cheol also established himself in the musical theatre industry. Fan Letter, Werther and My Bucket List are among his stage credits. The actor has also starred in a number of films such as Search Out, Troll Factory, Too Hot to Die and The Night Owl.