On February 1, a post titled “The person next to Jung Hae In in the racism post is Benson Boone—here are some facts” began circulating on an online community. The author explained that the man sitting to Jung Hae In’s right was Benson Boone, a singer currently active in the United States. While acknowledging that there may have been moments perceived as impolite, the poster argued that labeling him as racist was excessive and unfair.
The post further claimed that Benson Boone had visited Korea and engaged in activities there even before achieving mainstream success, consistently showing affection for Korean culture. To support this, the author shared a short interview clip filmed at the Dolce & Gabbana fashion show, where Jung Hae In and Benson Boone appeared together in a friendly exchange. In the video, Boone complimented Jung Hae In’s white suit, saying it looked great, and asked how he felt about attending the show. Jung Hae In replied with a smile that he was having a great time and described his outfit as “elegant and hot,” creating a warm and relaxed atmosphere between the two.
Photos from Benson Boone’s past visit to Korea were also shared, including an image that drew attention for showing the words “I ♥ Korea” written across his stomach, further reinforcing claims of his positive attitude toward the country.
After the post gained traction, many netizens responded by saying that Benson Boone had been unfairly branded as a racist, with comments such as “He was wrongly accused,” and “He’s someone who loves Korea—this must feel unjust.”
The original controversy began when Jung Hae In appeared isolated in a video filmed at the Dolce & Gabbana fashion show held in Milan, Italy, on January 17. The footage showed him seated between foreign attendees, leading some viewers to believe he was being ignored or treated dismissively. Although Jung Hae In drew attention from local media that day for his white suit paired with a silk shirt, criticism escalated when a fashion magazine uploaded a video tagging other attendees on social media but leaving Jung Hae In untagged. This omission fueled accusations of racial discrimination, with netizens calling the situation “clear racism” and saying he was treated like a “transparent person.”
As more context comes to light, opinions remain divided, but the discussion has shifted toward urging caution against jumping to conclusions, emphasizing the importance of understanding the full background before labeling individuals or situations as discriminatory.
Sources: Nate