I’m trying to put this in perspectives but can’t find it myself where I might end up with. Has he gone fearless? That he dared to go beyond what he has normally portrayed.
Let’s say, each of us has at least one daring thing that we’d like to try in our lifetime. As for SJS , just a hypothetical question, on your part, is doing this kind of work falls on that type of thing?

*****************************

To BOF:

We are writing to inform you of our sentiments and thoughts on a recent photoshoot Mr. So did for W magazine. When these photos were released to the public, we were shocked and dismayed. Unlike his other magazine photoshoots, this one produced photos that were vulgar, almost pornographic, and, more importantly, were highly insulting to our sensibilities as defenders of women. A few of these photographs displayed Mr. So performing what looked like highly violent and misogynistic sex with a female victim – they show him pulling her hair, silencing her by placing his hand over her mouth, and choking her. As people who believe in the fair and equal treatment of women all over the world, they were highly disturbing to see, and incited our shared anger and immense sorrow.

우리가 이런 글 쓰는것은 요즘 W 잡지에 찍은 소지섭씨의 사진에 대해서 당신들께 우리의 마음을 알리고 싶어서입니다. 그 사진들이 대중에 처음으로 공개됐을때 그 전에 나왔던 다른 사진들과 너무도 달라 우리는 큰 충격으로 경악했습니다. 이 사진들은 강도, 혹은 거의 포르노 수준 이었습니다. 더욱 중요한건 감수성이 예민한 여자들에게 큰 모욕을 주었다는 것입니다. 어떤 사진들은 대단히 강압적, 폭력적으로 피해 여자와 성행위를 하면서 그 여자의 머리칼을 잡고 입을 막고 또는 목을조르기도 합니다. 세상의 모든 여자들은 남녀가 동등한 대접을 받을 자격이 있다고 믿는데 이런 사진들은 우리에게 큰 분노와 슬픔을 주었습니다.

As a celebrity and as a public figure, So Ji Sub has a responsibility to refrain from sending out negative and harmful messages to those who are susceptible to them. And we cannot understand why BOF would arrange for a photoshoot with Mr. Richardson, when he is well-known for taking “shocking” photographs just for the pleasure of shocking others, and is by no means a universally loved figure in the world of photography. Perhaps you meant to bestow upon Mr. So an honour, for being the first Asian star to work with Mr. Richardson. Sadly, this is not strictly the case.

소지섭씨는 공인이기 때문에 사진을 통해서 그런 나쁜 메세지를 보내서는 안된다고 생각합니다. 왜냐면 그걸 따라하는 사람이 있을수 있기 때문에. 그리고 우리는 BOF가 왜 Mr. Terry Richardson 같은 평판이 나쁘고 사람들을 놀래키기 위해서 쇼킹한 사진만 찍는 그런 사람과 작업을 했는지 이해할수 없습니다. BOF는 Richardson이 유명해서 그와 소지섭이 첫 동양인으로 일하는걸 영광으로 생각했을지 모르지만 그렇게 생각지 않는 사람들도 많습니다.

As his highly devoted and longtime fans, this has been a hard and cruel blow, one we cannot possibly come to easily understand or accept. We are letting you know that this is not a universally loved photoshoot, and that this was certainly not the best decision a management company has made for So Ji Sub. We are letting you know that you have made a deep, lasting mistake, one that we cannot forget. We are letting you know that we are angry, and we will not remain silent on this issue.

그동안 오랫동안 소지섭씨를 좋아하고 아껴왔던 팬들에게 이건 큰 충격이었습니다. 이건 쉽게 이해할수 없는 부분 입니다. 그 사진들은 모든 사람들이 좋아하지 않을거라고 생각하고 이번 사진작업은 BOF에 큰 실수라고 생각합니다. 우리는 지금 대단히 화가난 상태고 잊지 않을것이며 그리고 조용히 있을수도 없게 됐습니다.

Please take care not to make another such mistake. We wish the best for So Ji Sub. We do not wish to see him alienated from his fans, or to see his career taken in a morally corrupt direction.

제발 이런 실수는 다시 하지 마시기 바랍니다. 우리는 소지섭씨에게 좋은일만 생기기 바라며 팬들과 멀어지지 않고 나쁜 커리어가 따라붙는걸 원치않습니다.

Thank you for reading.

읽어주셔서 감사합니다.

Jisub Addicts Club
http://www.jisubaddicts.com

Oh my, is this another case of lost in translation? There appeared to be a large disparity between the viewpoints on this blog (which i totally agreed with) and the overseas Korean opinions. Blame it on cultural gap, lack of understanding, bad personal judgment, terrible management … whatever. It should not have happened. I’d be interested to know about So Ji Sub’s personal reactions when he saw these photos. It probably was a different environment during the photo shoot; but hindsight, what does he think about the photos now? Would he do it again if given the chance? I guess whether he believes that the photo shoot was a mistake or not is perhaps not as important as what he learned from this (bad) experience. Ohhh and yes, Terry Richardson is widely known as an offensive artist and in no way, should be regarded as a good representation of American photographers.

Oops, forgot to put in my name. The above message was written by moi.