The recent controversy surrounding actor Kim Soo Hyun and his alleged involvement with Kim Sae Ron has negatively impacted his public image. While initial reactions online seemed critical of the actor, recent observations have led to suspicions that some of the positive comments appearing online might not be genuine fan reactions.
Surge in Positive Comments Sparks Suspicion
Over the past few days, many internet users have noticed a sudden increase in positive comments about Kim Soo Hyun from accounts that appear to be fan-run. This shift in online sentiment has caused some to question the authenticity of these comments.
News Reports Highlight Potential Paid Support
KNN News, a network affiliated with SBS, recently addressed this issue. Their report pointed out that several comments expressing support for the actor seemed to be identical, suggesting they were copied and pasted across various online platforms.
Netizens Compile Evidence of Coordinated Posts
Adding to these suspicions, netizens have gathered compelling evidence indicating that many supportive articles share similar content and wording. These articles, posted on different online communities, appear designed to evoke public sympathy for Kim Soo Hyun by highlighting his current emotional state or mentioning his past charitable work.
For example, multiple posts with the exact same headline, “It feels a bit strange to see Kim Soo Hyun in bad spirits…,” appeared on various DC Gallery forums, including communities for Girls Planet 999, Mister Trot, and League of Legends. The content of these articles described him as looking dazed and unable to leave his car.
Furthermore, screenshots show similar headlines like “The public opinion is all on Kim Soo Hyun’s side,” with some variations adding, “Only the ahjummas here are living in a different world.”
Another instance involved headlines emphasizing Kim Soo Hyun’s past donation of 300 million KRW to the Sewol Ferry Disaster Relief Project, suggesting he couldn’t have intended to extort money. These posts also mentioned his supposed lack of awareness regarding the financial issues between Gold Medalist and Kim Sae Ron.
User Error Fuels Media Manipulation Claims
Netizens also discovered a seemingly accidental instance where a user on a community site appeared to respond to their own positive post about Kim Soo Hyun from the same account, seemingly forgetting to switch profiles.
JB: Is it true that Kim Soo Hyun donated [krw] 300 million to the Sewol Ferry relief fund? Wow…it’s unexpected.
Comment (From the same account): Yeah, I know right?
This incident has further fueled speculation that Kim Soo Hyun and his agency might be involved in media manipulation tactics, potentially using click farms or similar paid services to sway public opinion.
Netizen Reactions Express Disgust and Frustration
Online reactions from netizens reflect growing anger and disappointment over these allegations.
Nate Pann: Many comments are shielding him on YouTube and Instagram, but they all sound strange. Isn’t it easy to create an account and just hang around at places where common people interact often?
Nate Pann: It’s so disgusting. Since he can’t provide evidence against his pedophilia accusations, he’s doing all sorts of things and failing. LOL.
Nate Pann: This media manipulation also seems to be trying to reverse the narrative by making people believe Lee Jin Ho’s side of the story.
Nate Pann: This is so ugly.
Nate Pann: Ugh…I really hate this. I hate everything even more now. I hope I don’t have to see him anymore.
Nate Pann: Gold Medalist really isn’t doing a good job. Do they gather all these people and pay them minimum wage to work? Their initial response looked clumsy and stupid to me. But it turns out they’re consistently clumsy and stupid, LOL.
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