SBS's "Midnight" released an analysis on Kang Ji Hwan’s comment, “I regret what I did, however, I do not remember the things that were done.”
The midnight program delivered the news of the first trial for Kang Ji Hwan who is allegedly charged with sexual assaults on September 3rd.
One reporter described Kang’s image at the court in detail. “Kang Ji Hwan was wearing a beige prison uniform. He had a shaggy beard and looked thin faced. Lowering his face, he answered questions with a blank expression. Kang’s two legal representatives took turns in making comments. The defendant silently listened during those remarks. When the judge asked if the defendant agrees to the legal representatives, Kang nodded with a sigh and said, ‘I think I have done wrong. I am sincerely regretful.’”
The victims’ lawyer stated, “Kang repeatedly addresses that he does not remember his own actions although he admits to the overall facts presented by the prosecution. However, Kang invited those victims separately and led them to be intoxicated before he committed sexual assaults to them one by one. This shows that the case was not accidental but intentional.”
One of the lawyers said, “It is hard to receive probation or weighing of an offense if there is no sign of regret. It adds four or upto seven years to the sentence once the act is proved to be a wilful crime. There is no other option for Kang’s legal team but to try to discredit the argument that his act was premeditated.
The program also reported the news of future wedding for Lee Sang Hwa and Kangnam.
A representative from Kangnam’s label stated that he “took out a ring without saying anything at a location where you could see the Han River. We heard that the proposal was very romantic and that Lee Sang Hwa teared up.” In regards to the wedding, the statement said, “They are about to start preparation. Only the date has been confirmed and they will need to hurry to hold it then.” “Their marriage was not a sudden decision. The couple already considered it from the beginning stage of their dating. Kang seems to think the wedding could have been prepared earlier if they had released the news before,” added the statement.
"Midnight" also covered Kpop craze that is newly emerging. Hong Gi Kim in Fandom Lab Blib said, “Apart from the Arctic and Antarctic, people from all over the world visit the site. There are even clicks from some regions in Africa. Kpop’s popularity is widespread in the world stage. Although Kpop music is in Korean, Korean visitors account to only 10 % and the other 90% is from overseas.”
The kpop group, KARD, was also interviewed. KARD is more popular and loved in foreign countries than in Korea. “Every year when we go abroad, we feel our fans become even more passionate. They sing along with us in Korean. They love our culture as it is,” said KARD. The country they felt most unfamiliar was Bolivia. “We never imagined that we would go to Bolivia. It was the country that we encountered only through football game. It was astonishing that people there recognized us,” added one member.
What are the reasons that overseas fans are attracted to Kpop? “There are many members in EXO but when they dance they may look like one person dancing. It is because they simultaneously move to look like one,” one fan wrote. The group dance is the major component of Kpop’s popularity. One expert said, “It is easy to sing along.” He also pointed that the collaborations with foreign composers contribute on drawing fans. It reduces cultural distance. One Kpop fan expressed her love for Kpop and wrote, “I could feel its emotion through the melody although I do not understand the lyrics.”
