The '2023 SBS Drama Awards', which took place on December 29 KST, was described by several media outlets and online netizens as a "solemn" event of "mourning". 

The annual award show took place this year on the same day as the private burial ceremony of the late actor, Lee Sun Gyun, and as a result, most of the celebrity attendees on this day dressed in black to indicate their state of mourning. None of the cast and crew members of the SBS drama 'Payback', which starred Lee Sun Gyun, attended the award ceremony for this reason. 

Throughout the program, numerous fellow actors and actresses paid tribute to Lee Sun Gyun during their acceptance speeches, particularly those who previously worked with Lee Sun Gyun in past projects. 

However, not all of the stars in attendance, especially those who were not previously acquaintance with the late actor, chose to mourn. 

So when actress Lee Sung Kyung appeared on the red carpet at the '2023 SBS Drama Awards' in a white dress, rather than the silently "agreed upon" dress code of black by fellow actors and actresses, ill-intended criticism brewed online. 

In response, many netizens were quick to defend Lee Sung Kyung's decision to wear the white dress, raising their voices against any form of "pressuring people into mourning" against their will. 

Numerous netizens commented,

"No one should be pressured into mourning for someone they maybe didn't even know."
"It's an award ceremony, not a funeral though? Why are they suddenly acting like Lee Sun Gyun was the only important thing that happened in 2023?"
"Come on, did a national hero die or something? What is going on with this overly dramatic reaction?"
"Lee Sung Kyung looked like one of the few sane people at the show honestly. She looked very pretty. And there's no rule that says black is the only appropriate color to wear to a funeral or other solemn event. And is it me or did some of the actresses who wore black yesterday look like they wanted to show skin more than they wanted to mourn in their black dresses?"
"Just so you guys know, it's perfectly acceptable to wear muted colors like black, white, and gray to a funeral or to show that you're mourning. Black isn't the absolute rule."
"It was actually refreshing to see Lee Sung Kyung in the white dress. Everyone else looked like they really wanted to be somewhere else."
"An award ceremony should be a celebration for everyone, not a place for a select few people to impose their personal thoughts and opinions on others."
"It's not sitting well with me that the drama/film industries are acting like this, as if some great hero passed away. It's fine to mourn over someone you worked with or knew well, but there are plenty of ways to mourn privately without making others feel uncomfortable."