South Korea’s nightlife in the Hongdae district is incredibly famous. Thousands of tourists visit the area to explore the clubs there. However, popular K-drama Secret Garden’s actress Ha Ji Won recently opened up about a disturbing incident in Hongdae that shocked viewers. As part of a preview for an episode of comedian Shin Dong Youp’s channel Zzanbro, Ji Won’s revelation has sparked online discussions on safety and harassment in nightclubs. Read on to know more.
Ha Ji Won Shares Disturbing Hongdae Incident
In the highly anticipated episode airing on December 15th, Ha Ji Won co-stars with actresses Kim Sung Ryung and Jang Young Ran. During the light-hearted discussion, Ha Ji Won shared a highly uncomfortable memory from her early days while preparing for a performance for veteran singer Wax.
The actress shared that she had struggled with some dance moves that would be needed for the performance; her body waves, in particular, were what bothered her the most. To loosen up and feel the rhythm more, people around her suggested she pay a visit to a club in Hongdae, to see how things are in person. Ha Ji Won remembered being both nervous and excited while entering the club for the first time.
But the experience turned negative soon. Ha Ji Won shared that right after entering, a random man touched her inappropriately. The sudden revelation visibly shocked other guests on the show as well as the host. Shin Dong Youp tried to lighten the moment first with his humour, but Ha Ji Won acted uncomfortable, which underlined the gravity of what she had gone through.
Many viewers shared their concern, sympathy, and support for the actress after the episode preview clip went viral. Some netizens also criticised how casually the hosts responded to it, saying things like that should be weighed sensitively. Advocates online emphasised that harassment in public spaces remains a persistent issue, regardless of fame or status.
Ha Ji Won currently stars in the JTBC variety program Same-day Delivery to Our Home, along with Kim Sung Ryung, Jang Young Ran, and dancer Gabee. She had appeared in Zzanbro to promote that show, but her unexpected revelation has become the focus of much interest.