SHINHWA’s Kim Dong-wan stirred debate after saying he’s been turning down TV show offers. Now, he’s returned to social media to clarify what he meant.
In a recent post, Kim wrote that he wished the TV show invites would stop, adding he doesn’t see himself as a funny guy and doesn’t want to unpack deeply personal stories on camera. “Digging up the past only leaves scars,” he said, wondering if he couldn’t just live quietly without putting on a happy, successful act―and asking the public to let him be.
The internet promptly split. Some praised his candor; others slammed the tone, with comments suggesting he’d only “wake up when the work dries up.”
On Sept. 14, Kim shared a follow-up, pointing to the grind faced by rookies in Japan and urging aspiring artists to keep preparing no matter what. “The chance often comes when you’re ready to give up,” he wrote. He explained that his “I don’t want TV show offers” line was about refusing comfort: “The moment you make easy money off cheap tricks, you drift away from your craft.” His advice to young actors and singers: “Whatever gig you get, treat it as part of your preparation.”
Kim also acknowledged he lost out on a lot of work during the pandemic because he was unvaccinated. When he finally landed a drama and felt like an entertainer again, “comfortable offers” started rolling in. After going independent, he thought he could make all the right calls himself, but now admits he may have misjudged things. “With so many people fighting for airtime, maybe I sounded arrogant,” he said.
He closed with encouragement for newcomers: “Do whatever you can. Keep preparing while you do it. The opportunity comes right when you want to quit.”
