Actor Kim Ji-ho is facing public backlash after posting a certification photo of him underlining sentences in a public library book with a 'pen'. The situation has escalated into a controversy as evidence of habitual public property damage has emerged, suggesting this is not just a simple mistake.
Recently, Kim Ji-ho posted a photo of himself reading a novel by author Kim Hoon on his social media account, along with his impressions of the book. The issue arose because the book in question, which had a public library barcode attached, was marked with a non-erasable pen.
Netizens criticized him harshly, stating, "Defacing a book that everyone shares is clearly damage," and "This is a selfish act that shows no consideration for the next person."
In response to the flood of criticism, Kim Ji-ho quickly posted an apology. He explained, "The habit of underlining in personal books came out unconsciously," and promised, "I will donate a new book to the library or compensate for it to take responsibility."
However, allegations of 'habitual damage' arose, leading to questions about the sincerity of his apology. Past reading certification photos of Kim Ji-ho, which netizens uncovered, also showed traces of writing on books with library labels. The presence of writing tools like highlighters around the books has led to further criticism that this is not just a simple mistake but a repeated behavior.
This incident has become a case that highlights not only the moral hazard of celebrities but also the lack of civic awareness regarding the use of public facilities. As public library books are shared assets of all citizens, there is a growing call for adherence to basic etiquette.
