Kim Tae Ri is Being Compared to Kim Hye Soo Following Vlog Controversy – Here’s Why
The public pointed out the difference between Kim Hye Soo and Kim Tae Ri after the "Twenty-Five Twenty-One" star received flak over an Instagram post.
Here's what happened.
Kim Tae Ri's 'Free Labor' Controversy
While some celebrities use YouTube as another platform to reach a global audience, the 33-year-old actress had the idea of stepping up her A-game in vlogging.
Kim Tae Ri, unfortunately, faced massive criticism for requesting "free labor" for her YouTube channel.
In her now-deleted Instagram post, the actress asked fans to help with translation for her vlog series, "So This Is The Place?"
Along with a link to a Google Form where volunteers could sign up for the subtitling project, the actress mentioned that it is "done through talent donation" and no compensation was offered.
"If you are interested in it, please fill out the form here and my team will contact you," the post read.
After uploading, she decided to delete the post after being called out by the public.
Netizens thought she was taking advantage of her celebrity status to get "free labor." However, her agency, MMM Entertainment, shared that Kim Tae Ri's vlog "does not generate any revenue from advertisements or other means." Instead, the translation was purely for her commitment to fans.
Amid the subtitling and "free labor" issues of Kim Tae Ri, netizens recalled Kim Hye Soo's past remarks about commissioning talents.
READ MORE: Kim Tae Ri Receives Hate After Asking Public to Do THIS for Free + Agency Reacts
As mentioned by a media outlet, the award-winning star had an interview with Woman DongA back in 2016. She spoke about getting obsessed with books by a certain writer and buying them despite having no Korean translation.
"I buy books that have not been translated and published in Korea directly from overseas online sites. Then I'll ask someone to translate them for me to read," she explained.
With this, the public was impressed by the top star's uncommon reading method and her determination to understand the book.
As mentioned in a report, netizens and even translators offered their free services for the actress. Some even mentioned that it would be an honor to be the personal translator for Kim Hye Soo.
Kim Tae Ri Apologizes Over 'Free Labor' Issue
After facing backlash, Kim Tae Ri took to social media to apologize for causing disappointment due to her actions.
In a lengthy Instagram caption, the actress began by expressing how "sorry" she was for the trouble she caused and how she made others feel uncomfortable because of her post.
Kim Tae Ri also explained the reason behind the post, noting that she had no intentions of taking advantage of anyone.
Her vlog is her way to "repay the love" that she receives from her supporters, and she "thought that this might be a more complete way to repay" her fans.
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