"That's enough" vs. "Not yet"

Singers MC Mong, Andy, comedian Yang Se Hyung, actors Park Shi Hoo and Ryu Shi Won are either planning their comebacks or revealing their plans for comebacks.

Artists who had halted all activities are slowly and carefully showing movement towards their comebacks. However, members of the public that are coming across this news are showing quite different reactions. There are some who say "That's enough mourning," while others who say "Not yet."

Returning Point - That's the Question

The figure that's been receiving the most attention with respect to his return is the singer MC Mong. Netizens who encountered news of MC Mong's return are saying "That's enough," and are welcoming his comeback. They're saying that despite being aquitted he has spent enough time in self-restraint, and that it's okay for him to return.

In 2010 MC Mong was under suspicion of intentional evasion of mandatory military service and waged legal battle, folding his entertainment activities. In May of 2012 the court acquitted him, but he's been showing self-restraint until now. It's been made known that he's been getting in touch with a few different entertainment companies. Now they're saying that MC Mong's return simply depends on his own plans.

However, there are still others, such as Andy and comedian Yang Se Hyung, who are being met with a cold response. The consensus is that it's "not yet time" for them to return.

Last November Andy and Yang Se Hyung were fined about 3 thousand dollars for suspicion of habitual sports betting through the use of cellphones. However Yang Se Hyung appeared on the April 13th broadcast of tvN's "Comedy Big League." In only 5 months of stopping broadcasting activities he returned.

Although he was wearing an Iron Man mask, Yoo Sang Moo said, "This self-restraining celebrity is pedaling in this mask. Yang Se Chan said, "I think I need to protect this person," and it was easy to guess that the masked person was none other than Yang Se Hyung. Although the broadcast was pushed because of the Sewol incident, it was made known that he appeared on the show and took off his mask, marking his comeback.

It was also made known that Andy was planning to hold a fan meeting in China on May 17th, and fans are openly showing their concern. In the March 23rd Shinhwa 16th anniversary concert encore show, he appeared onstage and apologized, saying "We will return in October as the full group of Shinhwa." But Andy is making a comeback with individual activities much too soon.

Diverted Overseas Activities

However it won't be easy to find the appropriate returning point. For one thing, it's hard to predict the public's responses to the news of a celebrity's return. So some are diverting their activities to schedules overseas.

A typical example is the actor Park Shi Hoo. Park Shi Hoo was involved in a sex scandal last February last year, and spent some time abstaining from the public's eye. In December last year he starred in the Chinese movie Fragrant Scent. Thereafter he appeared in the International Motor Show in China, and went on to appear in the press conference of the movie as well.

However, his return to activities in Korea is still difficult. The drama he was starring in at the time went completely downhill.

The Korean Entertainment Management Association referred to Park Shi Hoo, saying he was "the party that caused a social scene." They also stated, "The case was terminated legally, but he's trying to resume his entertainment activities amidst the absence of moral and social consensus."

Ryu Shi Won was convicted of assaulting his wife, verbal abuse, and threatening her. Although he suspended all activities in Korea, he held a fan meeting in Japan.

Ryu Shi Won is currently in his 3rd year of filing for divorce from his wife. She took legal action for his assault and threats, as well as illegally collecting information about her whereabouts. The court took her side and fined him about 7 thousand dollars. Ryu Shi Won appealed the matter, and is currently awaiting the final judgment.

At the time of the trail, Ryu Shi Won said, "I no longer have interest in entertainment activities. My image has taken a big hit with this matter."

Even still, about 8 thousand fans gathered to celebrate Ryu Shi Won's 10 year Japan debut at fan meetings on March 31st and April 2nd, which were held in Tokyo and Osaka, respectively. Ryu Shi Won said, "I promise to overcome this difficulty and stand confidently before you all."