JK Kim Dong-uk / Korea Times file

Following the tragic Jeju Air crash, Korea entered a weeklong national mourning period. While the entertainment industry canceled numerous events to show respect, some celebrities faced backlash for behavior deemed insensitive, sparking a debate on how grief should be expressed.

Singer JK Kim Dong-uk defended the right to grieve privately, saying that imposing a uniform way of mourning on others is inappropriate.

"It is absolutely wrong to force sadness on anyone for any reason. Not posting photos doesn't mean you're not sad, and not writing a post doesn't mean you're not mourning," he wrote on Instagram on Tuesday.

The Jeju Air passenger jet from Bangkok crashed into the outer wall of Muan International Airport during a belly landing, leaving 179 of the 181 people onboard dead.

Actor Jeon Jong-seo / Courtesy of CJ ENM

Kim also questioned the notion of imposing strict rules on grief, suggesting that everyone processes emotions differently. He wrote, "Isn't it true that as a new year begins, we all live our lives with joy and sorrow, laughter and tears with our loved ones? ... Let's all make this year one where we can judge what is right and wrong, and one where we can contribute to a better world!"

His outspoken remarks sparked a heated debate among internet users. Some sided with Kim, saying, "Stop censoring celebrities" and "Some people mourn quietly in their hearts, while others mourn loudly in public. Let's not force everyone to mourn in the same way."

Some even compared the current atmosphere to a kind of "totalitarian mourning," saying, "It's hypocritical to criticize celebrities for not mourning publicly while they enjoy their own lives during the holiday season. Think about (how) this 'mourning totalitarianism' is threatening the livelihood of those working in the entertainment and performing arts industry."

On the other hand, others criticized the singer, describing his remarks as "showing a lack of empathy" and "179 people died. While it's wrong to force people to be sad, it's also hard to understand why someone would live their life as if nothing happened."

Korea declared a weeklong mourning period until Saturday to express sympathy for the victims of one of the worst passenger jet crashes in the country's history. Many entertainment-related events were canceled as a way to show respect for the deceased, but some public figures faced public criticism for their actions during the period.

Actor Jeon Jong-seo faced backlash after posting a smiling selfie on social media, Monday. While she intended to update her fans, many internet users criticized her for being insensitive, leading her to delete the post.

Influencer Choi Hye-seon, cast of Netflix dating reality show "Single's Inferno" Season 3, has been accused of sharing a video of the crash on her social media. Despite expressing condolences, she was blamed for potentially retraumatizing victims and their families. She later apologized and deleted the post.

Lim Young-woong performs during his concert "I'm Hero: The Stadium" at Seoul World Cup Stadium in May 2024. Courtesy of Mulgogi Music

While some singers, such as Cho Yong-pil, Lee Seung-hwan, Kim Jang-hoon and Ali, canceled or postponed their concerts during the mourning period, others, including Lim Young-woong, Jaurim and Sung Si-kyung, have proceeded with their concerts, offering condolences during the events.

Culture critic Kim Hern-sik noted that blanket cancellation of cultural events should not be the sole form of mourning after national tragedies.

"It became customary to cancel cultural and artistic events following national tragedies, but it might have stemmed from a misunderstanding of the arts — viewing them merely as entertainment rather than as a medium to express idealized values aesthetically," he said.

Kim noted that although cultural expressions often include enjoyable and spectacular elements, these are not their core purpose and by removing aspects unsuitable for times of mourning and creating an atmosphere that honors the victims, art and culture can convey the spirit of remembrance.

"Concerts could feature songs dedicated to remembrance. If fans can share this moment of mourning with artists, it would be even more meaningful. Other stage performances can also be adapted to reflect the theme of mourning. There is ample room for mourning, even dances or plays," he said.

Moreover, Kim stresses that cancellations can put many people's livelihoods in danger as payments for cultural events are often made after the event, not in advance in Korea.

"There should be a system to reimburse a certain percentage of the production costs, even if an event is canceled. The lack of such a system often leads to the continuation of inappropriate events, even during the mourning period," he said. "It would be beneficial for the government to provide partial refunds for concert tickets when artists cancel their performances in respect for tragedy victims. This should not be limited to specific individuals or groups. Many cultural events are intertwined with the local economy."