Seong Hun appears to reflect on past controversy: 'Let your guard down and life gets hard again'

Actor Seong Hun has drawn attention with remarks that appear to reflect on a past controversy over his behavior on a television program.

In a video titled "When Life Is at Its Hardest" posted to his YouTube channel on Wednesday, Seong went fishing and looked back on his acting career.

While waiting for a bite at the fishing spot, Seong was asked by the production crew what he thinks about when the fish are not biting and whether he comes there when things get tough. "I don't think I really think about anything in particular," he said. "My mind just goes blank."

He added that some things are simply beyond a person's control. "No matter how hard you try, there are times when it just doesn't work out," he said. "In those moments, it's good to let yourself unwind every once in a while."

Seong then compared the push-and-pull of fishing to life itself, saying that when you sense something is coming, "you need to reel in with more effort than usual."

Reflecting on difficult times in his past, he said, "As you go through life, hard things keep happening regardless of your own will. Sometimes you can overcome them through effort, and sometimes even with help from those around you, you still can't get through it on your own. In those moments, I think it's not a bad idea to just let time pass."

He also said that while everyone has their ups and downs, "the hard part is not knowing when they'll come." He added, "Hard times do pass, but life is such that the moment you let your guard down after things are going well, it can get hard again." He drew further attention by saying, "If I could go back to the past with the memories I have now, I think I would live really wisely."

The remarks have renewed interest in a controversy over his behavior that surfaced three years ago.

In 2022, Seong appeared on tvN's "Julseo-neun Sikdang," a restaurant-themed variety show, and said he would immediately go to the restaurant next door if even one person was waiting in line — a remark criticized as an attitude at odds with the show's concept.

Further criticism followed when he was seen eating meat with shared tongs and shaking sweat from his hair in front of other cast members while food was on the table, with viewers calling the behavior unhygienic.

As the controversy grew, Seong's agency apologized, saying, "It seems there were parts that went too far in trying to be entertaining," and pledging to "be more careful going forward."

Meanwhile, Seong is set to return to television in November in the new MBN drama series "Boseu-ui Nogoljeok Chwihyang."