Ko So Young is facing backlash for posting family photos taken in Japan on Korea’s Liberation Day, August 15.
The respected actress shared pictures of herself with husband Jang Dong Gun and their two children enjoying their trip.
Netizens quickly criticized her timing, pointing out the sensitivity of posting Japan trip content on Korea’s independence day from Japanese colonial rule. Liberation Day marks freedom after 35 years of harsh oppression, including forced labor and sexual slavery inflicted by Japan.
Comments flooded in:
- “My god, she should have waited another day to upload them.”
- “Did she have to upload them yesterday? She should have thought about it before uploading the pictures.”
- “If they went to Japan on Liberation Day, despite having all the time in the world, couldn’t they have waited and not uploaded the pictures on the same day? It’s not like they would die if they don’t upload them on Instagram.”
- “Are they still vacationing in Japan? The couple are really ignorant.”
- “What are they teaching their children?”
Ko So Young deleted the posts amid the controversy and issued an apology:
I apologize for causing discomfort on an important day. I deleted the pictures as soon as I became aware of the controversy, but it was too late. I will be more cautious in the future.
— Ko So Young
The backlash highlights ongoing sensitivities around Japan’s brutal colonial history, which included forcing an estimated 500,000 Korean women into sexual slavery and killing up to 810,000 Koreans through forced labor.
The incident remains a hot topic as fans and critics debate the appropriateness of the timing. Ko So Young and Jang Dong Gun have not made further comments.
