Seol Kyung Kyu made some derogatory comments about South Korean singer and actress Seolhyun. The 50-year-old actor stated that the 22-year-old member of South Korean girl group AOA is a 'baekchi beauty' which is similar to a 'dumb blonde' in English.
During a press conference for their upcoming South Korean thriller film, Memoir of a Murderer, he said: "She has a 'baekchi' beauty. It's good for actresses to be 'baekchi'. I think it wil be memorable. I hope she does not lose her 'baekchi' beauty even when she's in her 30s and 40s."
However, this statement did not go well with her fans and well wishers. Following the backlash, Kyung Kyu rectified his statement. He said: "During yesterday's press conference, I sincerely apologize that I used a phrase that was not fitting. I wanted to say in a good way that she was innocent and like a piece of white drawing paper, but I used the wrong expression due to my lacking thoughts."
"I apologized to Seolhyun, and I will apologize again officially during a media interview. I will also, in the future, be more careful in the words I use. Thank you for your concerns and I'll always keep learning for the things I'm lacking in. I'm sorry once again," he added.
As for the film, the movie revolves around a former serial killer Byeong-su played by Kyung Kyu, who suffers from early stages of Alzheimer's disease. Seolhyun reprises the role of Byeong-su's only daughter Eun-hee.
Memoir of a Murderer, based on a 2013 novel by writer Kim Young-ha, hits local theaters in September.
