Singer MC Mong, who has been at the center of controversies such as overseas gambling allegations and false accusations regarding Kim Min-jong's alleged gambling, has drawn attention this time by directly handing cash for tuition to a student at a university festival stage.
MC Mong took the final stage at the Kyonggi University festival in Suwon on the 11th. He performed over 10 songs, including his 10th full-length album pre-release track "My Younger Days" (literal title), as well as "Circus", and "Ice Cream", leading the students in sing-alongs.
Near the end of the performance, the previously announced event actually took place. Having previously announced through a TikTok live broadcast that he would deliver scholarships in cash to a university student at the festival, MC Mong asked students who wanted to receive the scholarship to raise their hands, prompting participation by saying, "You shouldn't lie here," and "Don't pretend to have a hard time, humanly speaking." MC Mong also shared his own story, saying, "I got into university in 1998, but because my mom thought we didn't have money, I didn't go to school."
On this day, after hearing the answer, "I work three part-time jobs," MC Mong handed over the prepared cash. Handing over the money, he said, "I don't care, use it on drinks or clothes. But anyway, it's money I received from your school too," adding, "I just want to give it to someone who struck a chord. Please use it for studying."
However, reactions were mixed as videos of the scene were released. While the good deed of supporting tuition received warm reviews, some opinions also emerged that the format of handing out the scholarship in the middle of a performance like a cash event was too light, overshadowing its original purpose.
Meanwhile, MC Mong had been at the center of controversy until recently. In a personal live broadcast last May, he mentioned actor and singer Kim Min-jong by real name, claiming that he was "a member of Baduki gambling and receives tips at a gambling house with tens of millions of won in stakes," but apologized after four months of clearing up the misunderstanding when Kim Min-jong filed a complaint.
Prior to this, MBC's "PD Note" secured testimonies that Cha Ga-won, chairwoman of One Hundred, sent funds for MC Mong's overseas gambling expenses and raised suspicions. MC Mong has refuted these allegations as groundless and is currently running TikTok live broadcasts.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)