Solbi's Agency CEO Targets Gian84?..."84, Why Do You Keep Appearing on Broadcasts?" Controversy

Singer Solbi. Photo by tvN, screenshot from the broadcast of 'You Quiz on the Block'.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] It has recently come to light that Lee Jung-kwon, CEO of singer Solbi’s agency MAP Crew, posted a critical message on social media seemingly targeting cartoonist Kian84, sparking public attention.

On the 7th, Solbi appeared on tvN’s 'You Quiz on the Block' and said, "I was once told to my face, 'Why do you draw? Majors hate it. Do you think you draw well?'" She added, "That made me determined to work even harder."

Following this, the post by Solbi’s agency CEO on Facebook in August resurfaced, leading to speculation that the person who made such remarks to Solbi was 'Kian84.'

In August, Lee Jung-kwon wrote on his SNS alongside the number image '84', "During a KBS variety show recording in December 2016, someone openly gave Solbi a blunt and even sarcastic look and said, 'Why do you draw? Majors hate it,' which embarrassed her. Recently, I saw the webtoon that person released, and its content is truly disgusting and shocking."

He continued, "At that recording, because of that person’s words, others also treated Solbi’s art work as if it was a serious wrongdoing, which left a very unpleasant memory. I can’t forget how bewildered Solbi looked."

Singer Solbi. Photo by tvN, screenshot from the broadcast of 'You Quiz on the Block'.

Lee said, "Because of that incident, Solbi and I wanted to ask them through our work, 'What exactly is the art you’re talking about?' So, in the following year, 2017, we presented the 'Red' performance painting on KBS’s 'Music Bank,' the same broadcasting company, and showcased the same work at the Gana Art Center, an art exhibition space."

He added, "Anyway, I’m angry remembering how my artist was disrespected by someone with a two-faced nature, and I worry about accidentally seeing such a person on broadcasts again, someone who lacks consideration for colleagues and others. I really dislike how the issue disappears like a fleeting gossip and then that person appears on broadcasts as if nothing happened. It’s your freedom, but now I want to ask what I wanted to ask you back then: 'If you’re so good at drawing, why do you keep appearing on broadcasts?'"

Finally, Lee added the hashtag, "#ButBornIn84Weight84IQ84?"

Although he did not directly mention Kian84, netizens interpret the number 84 and references to webtoons as remarks targeting Kian84.

The day Lee posted the message on August 13 was the day after Kian84’s webtoon 'Return to Campus King' was embroiled in a misogyny controversy. Also, Solbi and Kian84 appeared together on KBS2’s 'Happy Together 3' in December 2016.

Below is the full text of the SNS post by MAP Crew CEO Lee Jung-kwon on August 13.

During a KBS variety show recording in December 2016, someone openly gave Solbi a blunt and even sarcastic look and said, "Why do you draw? Majors hate it," which embarrassed her. Recently, I saw the webtoon that person released, and its content is truly disgusting and shocking.

At that recording, because of that person’s words, others also treated Solbi’s art work as if it was a serious wrongdoing, which left a very unpleasant memory. I can’t forget how bewildered Solbi looked.

Because of that incident, Solbi and I wanted to ask them through our work, "What exactly is the art you’re talking about?" So, in the following year, 2017, we presented the 'Red' performance painting on KBS’s 'Music Bank,' the same broadcasting company, and showcased the same work at the Gana Art Center, an art exhibition space.

Regardless of the content of the work called 'Red,' it was a project that asked those who perceive it as a 'show' when performed on Music Bank and as 'art' when exhibited in a gallery, "What is art?" With this work, I was invited to Paris in 2019 and selected as an artist for 'La Nuit Blanche' exhibition, and as an entertainer, I was the first to have the 'Red' work displayed as large-scale media art on the facade of the National Asian Culture Complex in Gwangju. Ultimately, it seems that contemporary art is considered a 'show' and that is 'art.'

Anyway, I am angry remembering how my artist was disrespected by someone with a two-faced nature, and I worry about accidentally seeing such a person on broadcasts again, someone who lacks consideration for colleagues and others. I really dislike how the issue disappears like a fleeting gossip and then that person appears on broadcasts as if nothing happened.

It’s your freedom, but now I want to ask what I wanted to ask you back then.

"If you’re so good at drawing, why do you keep appearing on broadcasts?"

#ButBornIn84Weight84IQ84?

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.