Simon Gong Jun suddenly finds himself the subject of heated discussion due to the topic of him allegedly visiting the Kyoto Ryozen Gokoku Shrine. This has come less than a month after his Word of Honor co-star Zhang Zhehan was cancelled in China for his past visits to controversial shrines in Japan.
On September 9, Simon Gong Jun’s studio issued a statement to explain that the photo of “Gong Jun Visiting a Shrine” that has been circulating online was a screenshot taken from the actor’s vlog released two years ago on June 29, 2019. The shrine signpost was just in the background when he was buying matcha ice cream at a top tourist attraction along Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka in Kyoto. Gong Jun did not pay any attention to the background and merely passed by.
His studio also included a detailed analysis to back their statement. One photo showed that he merely passed by a signpost to Kyoto Ryozen Gokoku Shrine and not the actual shrine. They also included a map to show that the shrine is quite a distance from the signpost. His studio hopes that everyone will not infringe on another’s rights based on information taken out of context. His studio also states that Gong Jun loves his country. Furthermore, his studio has appointed lawyers to take legal action against users who are damaging the artist’s reputation.
Simon Gong Jun himself denied the allegations by saying, “Have never been, will never enter in the future.”
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tsevca
I don’t see the problem. Visiting is not the same as being there to give honor. It’s fascinating historical landmark and I would be curious as well about how it looks like. That doesn’t make me war criminals’ supporter. Hitler’s favorite castle is a very popular tourist attraction too. And not because the visitors are all fascists.
Aya
China and their usual hypocricy. You’d think people who still remember atrocities that happened during a war and get bent out of shape for the littlest reminder of it would also make sure not to do the same things to other people, but no, the Chinese government commits all kinds of atrocities while the brainwashed public condemns an actor for eating ice cream near a shrine.