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K-pop star Kim Jae-joong, also known Jaejoong, is facing severe criticism for an April Fools' Day "prank" he pulled on Instagram, Wednesday, by claiming he had been infected with the new coronavirus.
The member of the K-pop group JYJ issued an apology later in the day, but the controversy is showing no signs of abating at a time when nearly 1 million people worldwide have been infected with COVID-19, including a number of medical staff who are courageously fighting the contagious disease on the frontlines.
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| Kim Jae-joong / Courtesy of C-JeS Entertainment |
On his Instagram account, which has nearly 2 million followers, Kim claimed he had been confirmed to have been infected with the virus, saying, "I was hospitalized. I am sorry for those who could have been infected by the virus because of me."
Many fans who were worried about him left comments, while news outlets rushed to cover his announcement.
But about an hour later, he revealed it was an April Fools' Day joke.
The same day, Vice Health Minister Kim Gang-lip had already asked people to refrain from playing April Fools' Day tricks, saying, "The country is in a critical period for containing the COVID-19 outbreak."
Following the controversy, Kim posted an apology, saying, "I am sincerely sorry for COVID-19 patients and those whose work has been disrupted because of my joke."
The singer said he "intended" to raise people's attention to the public health crisis, but added that he would accept any punishment imposed.
The apology, however, failed to quell the public's anger. A citizen wrote on the petition submitted to the presidential office, "It was an act unbecoming a celebrity."
Kim's "joke" also drew the attention of foreign news outlets.
The New York Times reported: "His devastated fans were unamused," and, "For most people, the coronavirus is no laughing matter."
In response to the calls for punishment, the government said that Kim would not be subject to sanction as he had not violated the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Law.
"Those who make false statements to the health authorities or medical staff during epidemiological investigation or treatment can be punished in accordance with the law," Yoon Tae-ho, a senior health ministry official in charge of quarantine and containment measures, said during a briefing Thursday, noting that Kim's action does not fall within these criteria.
