가수 서태지가 '힐링캠프' 이지아 편과 관련해 해명, 눈길을 끈다.
13일 서태지의 소속사 서태지컴퍼니 측은 공식 보도자료를 통해 지난 11일 밤 방송된 SBS '힐링캠프, 기쁘지 아니한가' 배우 이지아 편에서 소개된 일부 내용에 대해 해명했다.
서태지 컴퍼니 측은 이날 "서태지씨 관련 부분 중 사실이 아닌 부분들이 있고, 이를 바탕으로 여러 루머들이 확대 재생산 되고 있기에 사실을 바로 잡으려 한다"고 밝혔다.
이어 "이지아 언니의 소개를 통해 서로 알게됐으며, 양가의 부모님도 서로 왕래하며 정식 허락을 받고 교제를 했다"며 "또한 두 사람은 미국에서 여행도 다니고 쇼핑, 외식도 하며 지냈다"고 설명했다. 특히 "안타까운 사유로 인해 어느 시점부터 상대방의 부모님과 연락을 못하게 되기는 했으나 이유는 상대방만이 대답할 수 있는 부분"이라고 선을 그었다.
또 "두 사람은 2년 7개월간의 결혼 생활을 마치고 별거를 시작, 사실혼 관계 없이 지난 2006년 합의 이혼했다"고 덧붙였다.
이어 "그 동안 서태지 씨가 침묵해왔던 것은 두 사람이 함께 했던 과거와 그 시간들에 대한 책임감이 컸기 때문"이라며 "더이상은 사실이 왜곡돼 일방적으로 매도되는 일이 없기를 바랄 뿐이다"라고 마무리 했다.
서태지 해명 소식을 접한 네티즌들은 "서태지 해명, 이지아 과장해서 말했네" "서태지 해명, 진실은 두 사람만 알겠지" "서태지 해명, 이제 그냥 각자 잘 살길" 등의 반응을 보였다.
<관련 영문 뉴스>
Seo Taiji breaks silence about his marriage to E Ji-ah
K-pop legend Seo Taiji finally broke his silence on Wednesday, clarifying his stance amid mounting controversy after his former wife, actress E Ji-ah made comments on their marriage on a TV show.
On Monday, E revealed her side of the story about her marriage to Seo, most of which has been hidden behind a veil of secrecy.
On the TV talk show “Healing Camp,” E confessed that the two fell in love after they first met at concert in the U.S. E talked about how lonely her life was as she had to keep their marriage secret for Seo, hiding it from their friends and family.
As Seo came under growing pressure from his fans for an explanation, he made clear his position in a press release, two days after E’s confession.
“Regarding E’s comments about Seo, they weren’t all true and rumors are surfacing, so I want to get the facts straight,” Seo said in a press release through his management agency.
According to the press release, Seo first met Lee in 1993, but they married four years later when Lee was eligible for marriage.
Seo and E had their parents’ permission to tie the knot, just like any other ordinary couple, unlike E’s claims that they were hiding it even from their families.
The pair travelled, went shopping and had dinner out while living in the U.S. They also invited their friends and relatives over to their home to spend time together, Seo claimed.
Seo had remained silent because he respects E’s pain and feels some responsibility for their shared past. But facts should not be manipulated and distorted anymore, he concluded.
Seo and E were secretly married for nine years from 1997, but divorced in 2006. Their marriage came to light in 2011 as E filed for a multimillion-dollar settlement.
Seo, 42, recently married actress Lee Eun-sung in 2013 and the couple have a baby on the way.
Seo debuted in 1992 as a member of K-pop boy band Seo Taiji and Boys. Since the megahit group disbanded in 1998, he has pursued solo activities as a rock musician. He is to return to the music scene with his ninth album around mid-October.
E, 36, debuted as an actress in 2007 with the drama “The Legend.” She has since drawn keen attention for her doll-like appearance and skillful acting while starring in several television shows. She recently signed a contract with a production company to debut as a screenwriter in Hollywood.
By Ock Hyun-ju (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)