(Yang Hyun-suk's Instagram)

Yang Hyun-suk, CEO of YG Entertainment, made a surprise visit last week to Kim So-ri from JTBC’s idol competition show “Mix Nine,” offering words of encouragement.

Yang posted a video on Instagram Tuesday with Kim and added the following hashtags: Mix Nine, Kim So-ri, CoCo Sound, Real Girl Project, I wanted to tell you you did really well, last week‘s surprise visit to the recording studio, Need to be interested to say bitter words, cold judgement and hope you do well.

In the video, viewers can see Yang encouraging Kim to do well in the idol competition. Kim had initially expected Yang to express bitterness towards her performance when he had said “Can I say one thing, Sori?” Contrary to her expectation, Yang encouraged her.

(Yang Hyun-suk's Instagram)

Online commenters, however, perceived this act of ”encouragement“ to carry an ulterior motive -- saving his public face. During “Mix Nine” broadcast five days prior to the Instagram post, Yang had told Kim that she was too old (28 years old) to be an idol singer and that it was time for her retirement. He further went on to mention how nothing is going well for the trainee despite her hard work.

The public did not take Yang’s ”constructive criticism“ on the show for face value. Online commenters criticized his carelessness in spitting those bitter words. Many also believe Yang posted the Instagram video in order to manage the situation.

JTBC’s “Mix Nine,” judged by Yang, is broadcasted at 4:50 p.m. every Sunday.

By Catherine Chung (cec82@heraldcorp.com)