Wardrobe Malfunctions on Korea's Red Carpet: When Glamour Meets Reality
Behind the flash of cameras and tailored gowns, red carpets reveal a different kind of pressure. A dress slips, tape tears, or a zipper fails, and a moment meant to shine becomes a memory that lingers online. Here are four dramatic wardrobe mishaps from Korean red carpets, and how their wearers turned embarrassment into grace.
In This Article:
A White Strapless Dress Slippage at Blue Dragon Awards (2022)
Ahn In-jin arrived at the Blue Dragon Film Awards in dazzling white, a strapless gown that hugged her figure and shimmered under the lights. As she walked toward the main photo zone, the dress began to slide—an unintended consequence of a size choice by the stylist. By the time she reached the photographers, the tape securing the chest was visible and the upper part of her torso was exposed. The red-carpet hosts stepped in, shielding her with their speech cards during interviews, while she pulled the dress back up. The moment was tense, but she handled it with poise and finished the night looking stunning.
A Controversial 2013 Moment: Min Jung’s High Slit, Slipping Strap, and a Rebound
Min Jung, who had drawn attention from adult-film work, faced a wardrobe mishap at the 2013 Pucheon International Fantastic Film Festival: a very high slit and a strap that failed, exposing underwear and more. The incident sparked speculation that it was staged. Seven years later she explained on a talk show that it wasn’t deliberate; she was too focused on posing to notice the strap loosening. She later left the adult-film industry, adopted the name Sun Ia (also rendered as Son A Kim), and moved into teaching Chinese while continuing to make magazine appearances.
Park Subin’s 2010 Black Dress Moment: Hem Snag, Tape Peel, and Public Scrutiny
In 2010 Park Subin walked the red carpet in a striking black gown that suddenly snagged on the hem. The tape holding the dress gave way, and the moment exposed her chest to the audience. The internet exploded with commentary, amplifying her embarrassment. Subin later spoke about the incident, saying: “I’m upset that the internet is filled with photos of my mistake, not my best moments. I will strive to make my future red-carpet appearances flawless.” She also added, with a touch of humor: “I’m glad I didn’t fall, because then no one would want to marry me.”
Kon Sora at Busan 2013: Zipper Trouble and a Gracious Recovery
Kon Sora’s Busan International Film Festival moment saw her in a red backless dress when the zipper split along a seam. She had to steady the garment as she walked, smiling and greeting fans with one hand still holding the dress in place. She later explained that the problem was the zipper, not the dress size, and she managed to maintain her composure. The incident drew attention, but it did not derail her career; she continued to appear in fashion shoots and projects.
