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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] SEOUL, Oct. 19 — Fashion magazine W Korea, published by Doosan Magazine, is facing heavy criticism after its annual “Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign” event devolved into what attendees described as a celebrity champagne party, sparking public outrage and accusations of insensitivity.
The event, held on October 15, was intended to promote breast cancer awareness, but videos and photos circulating online showed celebrities drinking and socializing in a party-like atmosphere, leading many to deride the event as a “celebrity hunting bar.”
While some celebrities claimed they attended without fully understanding the campaign’s purpose, the backlash has largely targeted the attendees rather than the organizers. Social media was flooded with criticism, and industry insiders noted that “no one will want to attend a W Korea event again.”
Despite the growing controversy, W Korea remained silent for five days before issuing an official apology on October 19. The magazine stated:
“We sincerely apologize for the discomfort and hurt caused to breast cancer patients and their families. We acknowledge that the event’s composition and proceedings were inappropriate given the campaign’s purpose.”
However, critics noted the statement lacked transparency and failed to include details about the donations or beneficiaries. The closing remark — “We will continue to reflect and improve where necessary” — was interpreted by some as a signal that the magazine intends to continue holding similar events in the future.
Amid the backlash, Editor-in-Chief Lee Hye-joo deleted over 1,000 posts from her Instagram account overnight, leaving her feed completely empty while keeping the account itself — and its 82,000 followers — active. Observers described the move as an apparent attempt to quietly defuse the controversy “as if fleeing in the middle of the night.”
알파경제 Paul Lee 특파원(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)
