Musical performer Jeong Minchan, who encountered public criticism after sharing a photo of himself consuming a Starbucks drink and later stepped down from a musical he was part of, once again expressed his apologies.
Jeong shared a statement on his Instagram account on the 23rd, saying, “I genuinely apologize for making many feel uneasy and let down because of my recent post.”
He stated, “I was handling performances, rehearsals, and different tasks by myself, which led me to not fully understand the social situation of recent events before I posted.” He further mentioned, “There was no intention or particular message in the post. Nevertheless, it ended up causing hurt and distress, and I deeply understood how careless and insufficient I was.”
He added, “As an individual who communicates through artistic expression, I thought about the importance of paying closer attention to social contexts and their significance. Although I have devoted myself to expressing feelings through performances, I regret not being more thorough in aspects that demanded greater reflection.”
In his last message, he stated, “I now realize how profoundly this matter has impacted numerous individuals and the dedication of those pushing for improvement. I apologize for letting down those who backed and observed my performances. I will take lessons from this situation and aim to be more careful and accountable moving forward.”
Starbucks Korea faced backlash earlier when it organized a ‘Tank Day’ event on the 18th, marking the 46th anniversary of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, which brought back painful memories of the military regime’s harsh actions. In the face of continued criticism, Jeong shared an informal picture taken at a Starbucks location on the 20th, leading to claims of being out of touch.
Following criticism, he made his initial apology: “I was not informed about the news or the problems, and I did not anticipate this level of attention. My lack of knowledge was an error, and I apologize.”
Nevertheless, because of the consequences, he stepped away from the musical *Diaghilev*. A representative from the production company Showplay stated on the 22nd through online ticketing platforms, “Jeong Minchan has chosen to exit the production following talks with the company.”
The source stated, “We apologize for the worry this issue has caused and for the trouble and confusion arising from the abrupt decision,” without revealing the cause of his exit.
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