Lead Actors Shocked as Journalist Describes Sexual Harassment Scene as “Heart-Fluttering”
Shin Hye Sun and Lee Jun Young face backlash after a bizarre press conference question went viral.
The controversy began at a 2023 press event for their movie Brave Citizen. A journalist asked if the director expected some viewers to find the chemistry between Shin and Lee “heart-fluttering” in a scene that actually shows sexual harassment.
The scene features Lee’s character, a delinquent student, forcing Shin’s teacher character onto his lap and harassing her. Viewers were stunned by the question because it seemed to twist a disturbing moment into something romantic.
Both actors were left speechless. After a pause, Lee Jun Young directly denied feeling anything like that during the scene.
“None of us felt that way during the scene,” Lee Jun Young said bluntly.
The incident got renewed attention in 2026 after clips of the moment resurfaced on social media. Fans and netizens slammed the journalist for being tone-deaf and disrespectful to the actors and the film’s message.
Many called it an insult to the actors’ work.
“Saying that you felt positive heart thumping emotion during assault scene where the victim clearly uncomfortable and the assaulter clearly evil is like.. An insult to their work. Their disbelief expression really fitting.” — @Ayu_babyrice
“I know both of them hold back not to say what the hell or shibal.” — @Pete_4242
“This was the original scene? I didn’t watch Brave Citizen yet but how is this a 설레 thing? No wonder Junyoung and Haesun was weirded out with that statement.” — @miraliyana
“imagine saying this about an assault scene…” — @obsessuho
용감한 시민 한수강 하면 이준영이 신혜선 괴롭히고 빌런짓 하는 장면마다 이준영 신혜선 케미 설렌다 락스물 케미다 이런 반응에 ㅈㄴ 경악하고 그뭔씹 취급해서 이상성욕자 씹덕들 수치사하게한것만 생각 남 근데 저같은 사람은 꼴린다고요ㅠㅠ
Saying that you felt positive heart thumping emotion during assault scene where the victim clearly uncomfortable and the assaulter clearly evil is like.. An insult to their work. Their disbelief expression really fitting.
I know both of them hold back not to say what the hell or shibal
This was the original scene? I didn’t watch Brave Citizen yet but how is this a 설레 thing?
No wonder Junyoung and Haesun was weirded out with that statement
imagine saying this about an assault scene…
Brave Citizen is an action-comedy about a teacher-turned-vigilante fighting a school bully. The film is based on a webtoon and stars Shin Hye Sun as Si Min and Lee Jun Young as Su Gang.
The controversy highlights how some fans reacted strangely to violent scenes, sparking heated backlash against the journalist’s question and those viewer reactions.
