Former Fin.K.L member and musical star Ock Joo-hyun has finally addressed the long-running 'okjangpan' controversy, breaking her silence on the divisive label that has followed her for years.
On July 8, Ock Joo-hyun posted a lengthy message on Instagram, beginning with, "It took me a long time to write this." She added, "Some may think it's already in the past, and others may wonder why I'm bringing it up now," explaining why she stayed silent until now.
The 'okjangpan' controversy erupted in 2022 amid nepotism allegations surrounding the 10th-anniversary casting of the musical Elisabeth. At the time, Kim Ho-young uploaded a post on social media saying, "'Asaripan' is an old saying. Now it's 'okjangpan'," along with an image. Many netizens interpreted it as a jab at Ock Joo-hyun. She denied any favoritism in casting and filed a defamation suit against Kim Ho-young, while Kim explained his post was meant to promote an acquaintance's father's flooring business. Ock later withdrew the complaint to prevent the controversy from escalating.
Ock Joo-hyun said the 'okjangpan' frame never faded with time, instead sticking to her name like a nickname. She shared that she endured years of suspicion, ridicule, and criticism, stressing it was not just a joke or a brief mishap. According to Ock, the label affected her public image, advertisements, and stage work in real, tangible ways. She also worried that the frame might burden colleagues and production companies, revealing that she even stepped down from a project at one point to avoid causing harm.
In closing, Ock admitted, "There were moments when I wasn't emotionally prudent, and I'm reflecting on those," but pleaded, "I hope my name is no longer consumed as 'okjangpan'—as a term of mockery."
Ock Joo-hyun debuted in 1998 with Fin.K.L and later transitioned to musical theater, where she has continued to build a prolific career.