Red Velvet’s Seulgi recently found herself in hot water after a video surfaced showing her swapping shoes with her manager at the airport.
The footage, which spread like wildfire across social media, sparked a heated debate among fans and netizens alike. The incident took place on July 12, as Red Velvet was heading to Taiwan for the ‘K-MEGA CONCERT IN KAOHSIUNG’.
In the video, Seulgi, dressed in a chic black outfit paired with gray heels, is seen at Incheon International Airport. But upon arrival in Taiwan, she’s spotted wearing sneakers instead of her original heels.
The manager, who had traded shoes with her, was visibly uncomfortable, leading to an outpouring of sympathy for the staff member. The backlash was swift, with many Korean and english fans expressing their disappointment and criticizing Seulgi for her actions.
Yes, Seulgi swapped shoes with her manager, leading to online backlash but later cleared up with an apology in her statement as she only did it as she developed blisters and it was uncomfortable for her .
So, here’s how it all went down.
The controversy began when Seulgi’s fans noticed the footwear switch with her female manager.
The manager, initially seen in sneakers at Incheon Airport, was later spotted in Taiwan wearing Seulgi’s gray heels, confirming the swap. As discussions about the incident heated up on forums like Pann and TheQoo, Seulgi took to Instagram to explain and apologize.
Seulgi’s statement shed light on the situation, revealing that she had developed blisters from her shoes and neglected to bring an extra pair of sneakers.
She wrote,
“I apologize to my manager and many others for the incident at the airport yesterday. Recently, while practicing, I developed blisters and wounds on my feet. Since the shoes I wore at the airport did not have very high heels, I thought it would be fine and neglected to bring an extra pair of sneakers, which was careless of me.”
She continued, explaining the decision to swap shoes:
“As I walked, my feet started to hurt more and more, and upon arriving in Kaohsiung, my manager saw how difficult it was for me to walk and suggested that I change my shoes only until we left the airport to avoid straining myself before the performance.”
Seulgi expressed regret over the discomfort caused to her manager and the fans’ disappointment, stating,
“In my pain, I couldn’t think of another solution and made a poor decision in the moment. I apologize to those who were disappointed and feel nothing but regret for upsetting my manager with this incident. I have apologized to my manager personally and will be more cautious and attentive to ensure that this does not happen again in the future.”
The situation quickly became a hot topic on online communities, with some netizens condemning Seulgi for what they perceived as a rude display of a employee-employer dynamic.
Others, however, empathized with her situation, acknowledging the pain and discomfort that led to the decision.
The incident also comes at a time when the dynamics between celebrities and their staff are under intense scrutiny. The public is increasingly aware and critical of how Korean stars treat those who work for them, and any misstep can lead to significant backlash. Seulgi’s quick and heartfelt apology may help mitigate some of the negative reactions, but the incident has certainly left a mark.
What do you think about Seulgi’s shoe swap incident? Was it an innocent mistake or a sign of deeper issues in celebrity-staff relationships?
Averagebeing’s Take: In our view, the Korean audience can sometimes be overly sensitive. While a bit of shoe swapping seems harmless, any underlying issues should definitely be addressed and rectified promptly.
