Actress Han So Hee became embroiled in an online controversy when fans uncovered that she had temporarily "liked" a post from conservative politician Lee Jun Seok on Instagram before unlike it moments later.
As per a report on Koreaboo, Lee Jun Seok had posted against existing rumors concerning him.
Netizens later observed Han So Hee's account showing among the likes of the post, only for them to vanish afterward.
Although the like was removed hastily, it set the online community abuzz with debate. Most users pondered whether the action indicated the actress's personal opinion or was indeed accidental.
As posted by theqoo, there were some disappointed commenters who urged greater prudence from public figures.
One user said, "Ugh... does she not realize she's a celebrity? Lee Jun Seok must be thrilled."
Another commented, "An actress's image is everything, isn't it? How will she get good roles like this... her fans must be upset."
Others, though, defended Han So Hee, opining that the situation was probably mere accident.
One netizen wrote, "Please let it have been an accident, please, please... If it was an accident, maybe she didn't even realize she pressed it."
Another wrote, "I've accidentally liked random strangers' posts before too, if it happened once, I can understand"
Some of the users also highlighted that reading posts from political figures isn't necessarily odd.
"It's not like only conservatives can look at Lee Jun Seok's Instagram. Even liberals might check it out out of curiosity. It was probably just a mistake," said one user, as posted on theqoo.
After the online controversy, Han So Hee's management company issued a formal explanation of what happened. The company, as per Chosun Ilbo, said, "It was a mistake and she accidentally did it while scrolling."
The explanation calmed down some of the controversy, although controversy still rages on all social media regarding the level of expectation from celebrities in Korea's hyper-politicized internet culture.
Han So Hee, who has appeared in "Nevertheless and My Name," has herself not made any comment on this.
