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| Khun |
Khun, the only Thai member of the Korean boyband 2PM, was involved in an accident with a motorcycle early on Tuesday morning as he made his way home from a function in Seoul.
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| The accident scene |
CCTV footage of the scene, released to the media, showed the bloodied motorcyclist lying injured on the road. The victim was admitted to hospital with back and shoulder injuries, and has difficulty moving, according to media reports.
Police, who took Khun in for questioning, reported that the young singer had a blood alcohol content level of 0.056%, which exceeds the Korean blood alcohol limit of 0.050%. They charged him with driving under the influence and released him.
The accident is the first blemish on an otherwise spotless record since Khun sprang to fame five years ago under the wing of K-Pop industry giant JYP Entertainment.
In Korea, where the industry takes such transgressions among squeaky-clean boyband members seriously, the reaction was swift.
A giant water park which has signed up the band as its presenters punished Khun for his drink driving offence by dropping him from the promotional campaign.
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| Caribbean Bay, minus Khun |
Khun has also been dropped from upcoming 2PM concerts in Korea and Japan next month, and a pre-recorded celebrity Olympics show.
On Thursday, Khun apologised for letting down his fans. He said he would pull himself out of his industry commitments for the time being as he reflects on his deed.
"I would like to write this letter of apology for such an irresponsible act,'' he wrote on a website, "to the injured person, his family, the people of Korea, my fans, JYPE family and staff, 2PM members, and all the people this situation has affected. I have betrayed the ones who have given me their love and support, the love and support I don't deserve with such behaviour.
"I feel the need to take some time off to rethink about my actions and myself, to make myself a better person and never again repeat the same mistake. I am truly ashamed that I have disappointed so many, and I am deeply sorry,'' he wrote.
JYP Entertainment, which issued its own apology for the accident, was unsparing in its assessment of what happened.
"Nichkhun, who is an artist under our agency, had attended a dinner with the entire JYP family present, following a rehearsal for a JYP performance.
"After having about two glasses of beer, Nichkhun was driving back to his dorm which is located on the same block as the location the dinner took place. On the way, Nichkhun was involved in an accident with a motorcycle at an intersection in the neighbourhood.''
His driving licence was suspended as a result, it added. "Nichkhun himself and our company are well aware that we were careless, and for this we would like to apologise. Furthermore, we will earnestly oblige to any follow-up investigations that may be necessary. Once again, we would like to sincerely apologise.''
Media reports have forensically examined the crash scene and the likely sequence of events. His fans have tried to make the best of the situation, saying neither motorist was able to see the other at the blind intersection, and both may have been at fault.
Neither JYP nor Khun have said what, if anything, they plan to do to help the motorcycle victim.
A witness to the accident published his account on a website, saying the accident occurred at the intersection as Khun was heading up a hill, and the motorcyclist down it.
"Khun looked really shocked when he saw the motorcyclist lying on the road,'' he said, denying reports that Khun left his vehicle to scold the hapless motorcyclist.
On Thai shores, media outlets appeared to delight in the misfortunes of their counterparts in Soeul as the Koreans tried valiantly to cut Khun's scenes from an upcoming MBC special, Idol Star Olympics.
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| The ping pong match |
"They weren't playing one on one. They only way I could cut his scenes would be to discard the whole match,'' he said.
Similarly, he was unable to delete Khun's scenes from a baseball competition.
"We can't air the programme without a pitcher [Khun], so that segment stays as it is. However, we were able to cut in its entirety an interview he gave,'' he said, adding production staff had worked through the night to make the editing changes in time for the show's airing date.
Thai websites published the scenes that the Koreans were unable to delete to ensure local fans were still able to catch a glimpse of Khun even as he pulled himself out of the industry in shame. -
2.
The head of the company that produced a notorious TV segment of a
woman painting with her breasts is giving himself a pat on the back for his
handling of the affair.
Panya Nirunkul, president of Workpoint Entertainment, says he should be commended for having the courage to admit his firm was wrong for its role in the breast-painting saga.
He was speaking after his company last week was awarded a gong for corporate excellence in the Golden Bell Awards, organised by the National General Assembly of Thai television, news and newspapers.
Mr Panya says his company deserved the award, despite its role in producing the bare-breasted painting segment for the Thailand's Got Talent show, which Workpoint makes for Channel 3. The offending segment was broadcast last month.
His company was forced to apologise after the public rounded on the show for showing too much female flesh.
The minister of culture said it offended Thai values, while the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission imposed a fine of 500,000 baht on Channel 3 for breaching broadcasting standards.
Contestant Duangjai "Pond'' Jansanoi, who took off her top, doused herself in paint and rubbed her breasts against a white canvas for the show, claimed an agent acting for Workpoint paid her to strip to boost the programme's ratings.
Phaya Thai police station called in Pond last Wednesday to acknowledge a charge of indecent exposure stemming from her act, and fined her 500 baht.
Despite the repercussions, Mr Panya said the breast-painting episode was a mere accident which should not deter observers from Workpoint's many achievements.
"We have always championed Thai culture and values, and now will make a concerted effort to avoid anything which appears too strong,'' he said after the awards.
"The awards are starting to roll in now, and I am sure there will be more.
"In actual fact, there really should be an award for courage, to recognise us for having the guts to come forward and admit our mistake,'' he said.
"We're waiting for whichever outfit will recognise us. They'll be heroes for sure. It's really hard to find these days ... a leader who does wrong but who comes out to admit it,'' he said of his own role in the affair.
"As to whether the award was appropriate, I suggest you ask the judges. My job is just to receive the award.''
Pond, interviewed on television earlier this month, said her life changed overnight when the public rounded on her for offending their morality. She quit her job as a coyote dancer, changed her phone number and went into hiding.
Pond said a talent scout paid her 10,000 baht to put her name forward as a contestant. She was not trying to seek fame by taking off her clothes as her critics had claimed.
"I did it for my son, who is aged six months, and my husband, who is out of work. We need the money,'' she said.
The Miracle of Life Foundation, under the patronage of HRH Princess Ubolratana, has now taken Pond and her family under its wing. -
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| Panya |
Panya Nirunkul, president of Workpoint Entertainment, says he should be commended for having the courage to admit his firm was wrong for its role in the breast-painting saga.
He was speaking after his company last week was awarded a gong for corporate excellence in the Golden Bell Awards, organised by the National General Assembly of Thai television, news and newspapers.
Mr Panya says his company deserved the award, despite its role in producing the bare-breasted painting segment for the Thailand's Got Talent show, which Workpoint makes for Channel 3. The offending segment was broadcast last month.
His company was forced to apologise after the public rounded on the show for showing too much female flesh.
The minister of culture said it offended Thai values, while the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission imposed a fine of 500,000 baht on Channel 3 for breaching broadcasting standards.
Contestant Duangjai "Pond'' Jansanoi, who took off her top, doused herself in paint and rubbed her breasts against a white canvas for the show, claimed an agent acting for Workpoint paid her to strip to boost the programme's ratings.
Phaya Thai police station called in Pond last Wednesday to acknowledge a charge of indecent exposure stemming from her act, and fined her 500 baht.
Despite the repercussions, Mr Panya said the breast-painting episode was a mere accident which should not deter observers from Workpoint's many achievements.
"We have always championed Thai culture and values, and now will make a concerted effort to avoid anything which appears too strong,'' he said after the awards.
"The awards are starting to roll in now, and I am sure there will be more.
"In actual fact, there really should be an award for courage, to recognise us for having the guts to come forward and admit our mistake,'' he said.
"We're waiting for whichever outfit will recognise us. They'll be heroes for sure. It's really hard to find these days ... a leader who does wrong but who comes out to admit it,'' he said of his own role in the affair.
"As to whether the award was appropriate, I suggest you ask the judges. My job is just to receive the award.''
Pond, interviewed on television earlier this month, said her life changed overnight when the public rounded on her for offending their morality. She quit her job as a coyote dancer, changed her phone number and went into hiding.
Pond said a talent scout paid her 10,000 baht to put her name forward as a contestant. She was not trying to seek fame by taking off her clothes as her critics had claimed.
"I did it for my son, who is aged six months, and my husband, who is out of work. We need the money,'' she said.
The Miracle of Life Foundation, under the patronage of HRH Princess Ubolratana, has now taken Pond and her family under its wing. -
3.
The socialite accused of breaking up a celebrity couple's marriage
says the industry is misrepresenting her.
Media reports say Napasanan "Mor'' Pattsawong, the heir to a gold shop fortune, is the third hand who lured away presenter Chettawut "Buay'' Watcharakhun from his wife, model Chanokwanan ``Tuk'' Watcharakhun.
The couple filed for divorce last month amid reports that Buay is set
to propose marriage to Mor, who is supposedly two months pregnant with his
child.
While Buay and his former wife Tuk have said little about his supposed relationship with Mor, the socialite herself last week tired of the hurtful rumours and let her feelings be known in a spirited post on Instagram.
"So I am [to be] married, am I? Kindly tell me the day, or I might
not be able to get my wedding dress made in time,'' she wrote sarcastically.
"So I'm two months pregnant as well! I'm married, pregnant, a third hand... this industry really is the limit,'' she wrote.
Mor was spotted dancing at the 20th anniversary concert last week of singer Jay Jetarin. The socialite agrees she went at it with vigour. "I danced so hard, I've probably lost my child by now,'' she added.
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| Mor |
Media reports say Napasanan "Mor'' Pattsawong, the heir to a gold shop fortune, is the third hand who lured away presenter Chettawut "Buay'' Watcharakhun from his wife, model Chanokwanan ``Tuk'' Watcharakhun.
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| Buay |
While Buay and his former wife Tuk have said little about his supposed relationship with Mor, the socialite herself last week tired of the hurtful rumours and let her feelings be known in a spirited post on Instagram.
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| Tuk |
"So I'm two months pregnant as well! I'm married, pregnant, a third hand... this industry really is the limit,'' she wrote.
Mor was spotted dancing at the 20th anniversary concert last week of singer Jay Jetarin. The socialite agrees she went at it with vigour. "I danced so hard, I've probably lost my child by now,'' she added.
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