Choo Young Woo a South Korean actor garnered great attention after being spotted at the 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards, where he presented for the Best New Actor Award even though he had a bandage covering one of his eyes.
Choo's choice to proceed with the ceremony without addressing his injury raised concerns among fans and viewers. According to his agency, the injury was minor and occurred while exercising, Koreaboo cited.
The agency said, "Choo Young Woo sustained a minor injury while exercising, but his health is fine. He plans to fulfill his schedule without pushing too hard on himself."
Reports indicate that Choo received emergency treatment on the day of the event before attending the awards ceremony.
Despite this explanation, Choo's appearance triggered a wave of negative reactions online. An edited photo of him with bandages covering both eyes circulated widely, amassing over six million views. As a result, one social media fan commented saying, "I don't want to see him so I closed his eyes like this."
Such a reaction comes in light of prior controversies that have plagued Choo Young Woo, where he was accused of having created art pieces depicting pedophilic themes.
In spite of this, the controversial actor's attendance in the Baeksang Arts Awards gala – an annual event which recognizes outstanding achievements in Korean cinema and television – became the central part of the event.
Furthermore, there have been no comments from Choo Young Woo's side concerning the controversy that has erupted.
In separate news, a report from Jazmine Media said Choo Young Woo apologized after facing backlash over his Instagram follow list, which included controversial rapper Jung Sang Soo and streamer KUBIN. As criticism grew, fans noticed he started removing some accounts from his follow list.
During an interview for "The Tale of Lady Ok", Choo Young Woo said the controversy made him realize he needs to be more careful with his actions and words as his popularity rises. He explained there was no special intention behind the unfollows, apologized for making people uncomfortable, and promised to be more cautious in the future.
READ MORE: Choo Young Woo Opens Up About His High School Ex-Girlfriend: 'I Worked Hard Because of Her'
