Singer Na Most Searched Online
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
The popular singer Na Hoon-a and Internet users' comments about him swept the online search engine of Naver last week, along with Friday's media conference where he denied all rumors involving violence, sex, adultery, and much more.
The 61-year-old trot master strongly criticized the media for spreading ``groundless'' rumors, according to which a Japanese gangster castrated him for having an affair with an actress who was the yakuza's girlfriend. Rumors had it that his long-term absence from stage was because of the sexual organ amputation and hospitalization for the treatment.
During the briefing, Na even tried to pull off his pants to prove he had no ``wound,'' a gesture that was stopped by embarrassed reporters and his fans. He also said that he wanted to clear two actresses of the rumors they were the yakuza's lovers.
The conference, aired live by two cable broadcasters, recorded an audience rating of 4 percent, a high rate for cable TV.
The cyber world, which was filled with rumors and speculations about Na, is now full of sympathy toward him along with criticism of the media, which Na said, ``directly carried and spread groundless rumors made by Internet users.''
An Internet user with the ID ``sadloveu'' said, ``He might have been struck dumb by the rumors. I hope Na can overcome the mental hurt.''
Another Netizen named ``kcy2023'' urged the media to change their reporting tactics, saying: ``When an issue emerges, the media do not consider the damage to the people concerned.''
But some said Na's denial did not clarify the rumors. ``Of course he denies the rumors of having an affair with an actress and an entertainer's wife, as he will be in trouble if he admits to this. Gesturing to pull off his pants, even though he knew the briefing was aired live, was excessive showmanship,'' an Internet use ``pp0po'' said.