Why is the public okay with Lee Hyori dating but not Kim Tae Hee?

Article: What if Kim Tae Hee was Lee Hyori? Why the public thinks they own her

Source: Oh My News via Naver

Article that points out how Kim Tae Hee and Lee Hyori are both two top female stars that received the opposite reactions to news of their relationships.

Journalist speculates that Kim Tae Hee's image as the ideal woman for nearly every man in Korea has a lot to do with the negative response her relationship with Rain is garnering. Lee Hyori, on the other hand, has been known for trend setting and pushing the boundaries with her image so there was nothing surprising about her going public with her relationship.

While Kim Tae Hee is seen as someone everyone tries to find in a partner or live up to (pretty, smart, clean image), Hyori is a star that people admire from afar.

1. [+117, -19] I agree with the article somewhat. The reason Kim Tae Hee is so loved is because of the way her image is presented and less to do with who she is as a person. If she hadn't graduated from Seoul University, she wouldn't have received nearly as much hype.

2. [+80, -1] That's true, people are always pointing out that she's a Seoul Uni graduate

3. [+64, -5] Her scandal with Rain was a huge detriment to her image because her image has always been squeaky clean aside from a few acting criticisms. It's good that she's avoiding the spotlight for it.

4. [+56, -1] Kim Tae Hee probably didn't expect the response that she did. She probably thought they'd be the best new couple of the generation but her boyfriend instead ended up on probation with nothing but hate in their articles

5. [+52, -4] Lee Hyori handled it the best. She was cool about her relationship and didn't make a big deal out of it.

6. [+33, -3] Kim Tae Hee only has a career in Korea because our country puts so much value on beauty, clean image, and a good education to be considered anyone worth talking to.

7. [+34, -4] The article tells it like it is. Kim Tae Hee and IU's careers are entirely built on their images, not their actual talent (or lack of talent for Kim Tae Hee). If they were more known for their talent over their image, their scandals wouldn't have impacted their careers so gravely. It's not fair to blame the public for liking a "false/TV image" when that's all their career relied on. It's not the public's fault that they choose to leave them once their image comes crashing down. That just basically proves that their fame relied solely on their manufactured image and not their talent.

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