[ASKKPOP] Agencies suspend advertising with Lee Byung Hun and Han Hyo Joo due to netizen's petition

On September 5, a petition titled, "Please take Lee Byung Hun out from the advertisements" was posted on portal siteDaum Agora. The description attached read: "It's fine for me to choose which movies and dramas [with Lee Byung Hun] not to see, yet without wanting to, I keep seeing [him on TV]. I request for a suspension of Lee Byung Hun's advertisements."

The petitioner's original goal was to gain at least 2,000 signatures, but the petition has since garnered around 4,000 signatures and will continue to be open until September 29.

It seems that the petitioner's request, as well as the request of his supporters, have been heard, as several companies have suspended their advertising activities with Lee Byung Hun. On September 18, Lee Byung Hyun's CF PR representative talked to Korean news outletTenasiaabout one particular unnamed company, saying,"We don't know what direction the advertisers would like to take with the remaining time on his contract. For now, what we can say for sure is that XX is suspending advertisement [activities with Lee Byung Hun]."

Just as Lee Byung Hun is receiving backlash from his blackmail scandal, hisBH Entertainmentlabelmate Han Hyo Joo is being affected as well. This is due to the fact that Han Hyo Joo is currently embroiled in her own controversy, as she has been implicated by unconfirmed rumors about cruel behavior from her younger brother. Han Hyo Joo's younger brother is speculated of assaulting and bullying a Private Kim during his military service back in July 2013. They believe that Han Hyo Joo should take responsibility for her brother and should also be suspended from advertising activities. It's been reported that both celebrities are currently unable to continue with their advertising activities due to their negative, public image.