International environmental organization Greenpeace has spoken out about the controversy surrounding their ambassador, actor Ryu Jun Yeol’s and the alleged ‘greenwashing’ controversy he’s been involved in.
Ryu Jun Yeol has recently been embroiled in controversy surrounding his past relationship with actress Hyeri while admitting to his current relationship with Han So Hee. Public criticism has escalated, with netizens accusing him of ‘greenwashing’ as a Greenpeace ambassador.
‘Greenwashing’ refers to the act of presenting environmentally harmful actions as eco-friendly. Despite engaging in activities to raise awareness about climate disasters, Ryu Jun Yeol’s passion for golf, a sport known for environmental destruction, has brought attention to his alleged ‘greenwashing’.
Additionally, revelations that Ryu Jun Yeol does not wash dishes on set, as claimed by his manager, despite carrying a lunchbox for environmental conservation, have sparked further scrutiny. As a result, Greenpeace has seen a wave of sponsor cancellations.
In an official statement released on March 21st, Greenpeace issued a statement addressing the situation and recent waves of cancelations.
Greenpeace’s statement regarding Ambassador Ryu Jun Yeol is as follows:
Ambassador Ryu Jun Yeol has been actively participating in various Greenpeace campaigns since 2016 and is also a sponsor of Greenpeace. Based on his willingness to work together on various environmental campaigns in the future, Ryu was appointed as the first ambassador for Greenpeace East Asia in April 2023.
His activities as an ambassador are voluntary and based on his personal goodwill. We are currently addressing inquiries from sponsors regarding this matter. Greenpeace operates solely on individual and independent foundation sponsorships without receiving funding from governments or corporations. One of Greenpeace’s roles is to amplify the voices of citizens to drive change in governments and corporations. We will take this opportunity to review and discuss regulations related to ambassador activities.
Thank you.
Source: (A)
