The recent passing of actress Kim Sae Ron has reignited an ongoing debate: how much should public figures’ expressions of grief be scrutinized? Actor Lee Jong Hyuk, who posted a heartfelt message in remembrance of Kim, found himself unexpectedly at the center of controversy due to a single phrase—“I never got to buy you a drink.”

On February 18, two days after Kim’s passing, Lee shared a tribute on his social media, writing, “Sae Ron… my little neighborhood junior who shared my birthday. Rest in peace. I never got to buy you a drink… I hope you’re smiling where you are.” However, some netizens quickly criticized his wording, saying that referencing alcohol in a tribute to someone who had faced public backlash for a past DUI incident was inappropriate. Comments included: “Considering her past, wouldn’t ‘meal’ have been a better choice than ‘drink’?” and “A public figure should have been more mindful.”

However, many others pushed back, questioning whether even mourning must now be policed. “Are we seriously at a point where even tributes must be censored?” some asked, while others lamented that grief was being turned into yet another subject for public scrutiny.

When actor Shin Hyun Joon paid tribute to the late Lee Sun Gyun, who passed away in December 2023, he shared an social media post featuring a photo of the actor’s memorial portrait alongside a single white chrysanthemum at the location where he was found. This, too, was met with backlash, as some accused him of “sensationalizing” Lee’s death. The negative response prompted Shin to delete the post.

Singer Harim also faced backlash when he posted a tribute to Lee Sun Gyun with an illustration titled “The Revenge of the Muses”, commenting on the harshness of public scrutiny. Some critics argued the artwork was unrelated to Lee’s situation, leading Harim to remove the post altogether.

Other figures, such as composer Kim Eana and actor Lee Ji Hoon, shared reflections on Lee Sun Gyun’s passing that touched on the nature of online discourse and public judgment. However, their posts were met with accusations of moral grandstanding, with critics claiming they were “lecturing the public” rather than focusing on mourning. Under pressure, they too deleted their messages.

This latest controversy over Kim Sae Ron’s tribute follows the same pattern—where even sincere expressions of grief are picked apart and criticized. Whether it’s who mourns, how they mourn, or even if they mourn at all, the intense public scrutiny surrounding celebrity tributes has become an unsettling new norm.

At its core, mourning is a deeply personal experience. But in an era of social media-driven outrage, even the act of remembering a lost colleague or friend has become fraught with controversy. As public scrutiny intensifies, one can’t help but wonder: have we reached a point where even grief is no longer personal?

SEE ALSO: One journalist shares that rumors of Kim Sae Ron staging her part-time job are false