A wave of controversy and amusement swept through online communities after past answers written by celebrities on Naver Knowledge iN were unexpectedly exposed due to a service error. Actors, athletes, and other public figures found their old, often anonymous responses suddenly resurfacing, sparking debate over privacy while also revealing surprisingly human sides of well-known faces.
On February 4, a “Knowledge iN” button was added to certain celebrity profile pages on Naver, alongside existing links to Instagram and X (Twitter). Through this button, users were able to view answers celebrities had written on Knowledge iN over the years. The discovery spread rapidly across online communities, drawing intense attention overnight.
Among the exposed posts were thoughtful and professional responses that earned praise. Actress Jeon So Min, for example, once replied directly to a question about an outfit she wore in a drama, sharing the brand name and humorously citing the source as “me, lol,” which amused many viewers. Former national rhythmic gymnast Son Yeon Jae’s past answer also resurfaced. Responding to a question about dieting, she advised that jogging was the most effective exercise and emphasized the importance of eating habits. The answer was written in 2006, when she was just 13 years old and actively preparing for the Olympics, prompting reactions such as “so pure” and “surprisingly sincere.”
However, not all reactions were lighthearted. Actor Heo Sung Tae drew particular attention after it was revealed that in a 2010 response to a question about stock trading suspension periods, he bluntly asked, “Why do stocks at all?” and added that people who try to make easy money through stocks were “a pathetic bunch.” While the harsh wording surprised many, others pointed out that the comment was written a year before his acting debut, reacting with humor by saying the remark felt “voice-acted” in his unmistakable tone.
Given Knowledge iN’s emphasis on anonymity, many uncovered answers included casual language, slang, or blunt expressions, raising concerns that such posts never meant to be linked to real identities could now damage public images. Naver responded on the same day, stating that the exposure resulted from an error during a recent service update and that corrective measures had been completed. The Knowledge iN button has since been removed from profile pages. Notably, Naver had previously introduced a feature linking “People Profiles” with Knowledge iN as part of efforts to strengthen the service.
Another figure whose past answers drew attention was actor Jo Woo Jin, whose unexpected charm emerged through his Knowledge iN history. Online communities revisited a 2008 post in which he personally answered a user asking for the Korean phonetic spelling of English lyrics from Rain’s song Rainism. Clarifying that they wanted the lyrics written as they sounded not translated the user received a detailed response from Jo Woo Jin, who humorously wrote lines like “I’m gonna be a bad boy,” “How do you feel? Make some noise,” and “I’m gonna be crazy now, yes, crazy now.” The answer was even selected as the best response.
Known for his intense villain roles in works like Inside Men, Jo Woo Jin’s playful and earnest reply surprised many, prompting reactions such as “adorable,” “genuinely funny,” and “unexpectedly likable.” In another post, he gave a serious and thoughtful answer to someone asking about seat selection at Daegu Keimyung Art Center, advising that sound quality not just visibility is the lifeblood of musical theater.
For now, the Knowledge iN button has disappeared from celebrity profiles, once again hidden after the update error. Still, the brief exposure has left behind a mix of laughter, nostalgia, and renewed discussion about anonymity, privacy, and the unfiltered pasts of public figures.
Sources: Nate