Min Do-hee, left, and Ki Eun-se / Xportsnews
From airport etiquette to apartment noise complaints, a series of recent celebrity controversies in South Korea is drawing attention not only for the incidents themselves, but also for how quickly public backlash can escalate over seemingly everyday behavior.
In a country where apartment living, shared public spaces and online scrutiny are deeply intertwined, even minor actions by celebrities can spark viral criticism and public apologies.
Actress Min Do-hee recently revisited a controversy that erupted last year after she uploaded a photo showing herself resting her feet — while still wearing shoes — on airport seats.
Speaking on her YouTube channel “Mini Dohee” on Tuesday, Min addressed the issue directly after the topic resurfaced during filming.
“I’m sorry,” she said immediately when the controversy was mentioned.
Min said the behavior stemmed from a personal habit, explaining that because of her short height and legs, she often sits cross-legged or pulls her feet up onto chairs. However, she acknowledged that the criticism became a turning point.
Min Do-hee / Captured from Min’s YouTube channel
“After that incident, I definitely tried to fix the habit,” she said.
The original controversy broke out in September 2025 after Min uploaded the airport photo to social media. As criticism spread online over public etiquette, she later apologized, saying her careless actions had made people uncomfortable.
Ki Eun-se / Captured from Ki’s social media, Xportsnews
Actress Ki Eun-se also faced backlash recently over renovation work at her home in Seoul’s upscale Pyeongchang-dong neighborhood.
The controversy began after an online post, written by someone claiming their parents lived next door to Ki, complained that construction vehicles had blocked narrow streets for months and that dust and construction waste had caused inconvenience for residents.
As the complaints spread across online communities, Ki’s side said on May 7 that she had personally visited the site to address parking and waste disposal issues and was coordinating efforts to prevent further inconvenience.
The following day, Ki also shared messages showing she had directly apologized to a resident who raised concerns about the construction noise.
Kim Bin-woo / Captured from online communities
Meanwhile, actress Kim Bin-woo came under fire over a late-night TikTok livestream that some viewers said could cause floor noise in an apartment building.
The controversy spread online after clips circulated showing Kim dancing and singing into a microphone during a livestream around 1 a.m.
When one viewer asked whether she lived in an apartment, Kim replied, “I live on the first floor,” before continuing the broadcast.
The response quickly fueled criticism online, particularly in South Korea, where apartment noise disputes have become a highly sensitive social issue amid dense urban living.
Kim later apologized the same day, saying she was “deeply reflecting” on her “short-sighted behavior” and would be more careful in the future.
The incidents have fueled renewed discussion online about South Korea’s intense culture of public etiquette and the speed at which celebrity behavior can turn into viral controversy.
While many agreed the celebrities acted carelessly, others questioned whether every minor social misstep should trigger nationwide criticism and formal apologies.
This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.