Choi Woo-shik airs side amid racism accusations

Allegations of racism have followed  Korean-Canadian star Choi Woo-shik after a fan video circulated online. The actor gave his side of the story through his Instagram Stories.

On June 28, Choi Woo-shik apologized and responded in English, "Sorry if I missed you! I tried to sign as many autographs as I could, but time was just too short." 

The 36-year-old explained that the situation was due to limited time rather than intentionally excluding anyone. "I really hope we can meet again next time!" he added.

The controversy started after a fan shared a video of a Paris fashion show on June 26.  The fan said, "I was the only Black person in that section. All the girls around me have the same complexion, which I don't have. Right in front of me, he signed somebody else's posters except mine." 

She explained that she brought a poster and a sign in hopes of getting an autograph from an actor she had admired for a long time, but he walked away without acknowledging her. The video quickly went viral, with some viewers questioning whether racial bias was involved.

Additional videos from the same event later surfaced. The footage seemed to show the "Parasite” actor signing autographs for fans in a relatively random manner rather than selectively choosing whom to approach. Clips from the event also showed him smiling, posing for photos, and interacting with fans.

The discussion also included Woo-shik’s past support for anti-racism efforts. As reported by Maeil Business in 2020, he participated in the Blackout Tuesday (#BlackoutTuesday) campaign by sharing relevant messages on social media following the death of African American George Floyd in the United States, 

Over the years, he has communicated with international fans and has been seen interacting with supporters regardless of nationality or race.

After Choi Woo-shik’s statement on social media, online reactions remained divided. Some said his explanation cleared up the misunderstanding, while others said it was difficult to judge the situation based on a short video alone. 

Still others pointed out that interactions at crowded public events are often limited by time, while some said the fan’s disappointment was understandable though there was not enough evidence of racial discrimination.