Ask Us Anything Fortune Teller, confirmed attempts to recruit sinkhole victims' family… criticism persists despite producers' apology
The production team of the KBS Joy entertainment program 'Ask Us Anything Fortune Teller' confirmed through reports that they had directly sent a recruitment DM to the family of a victim of a sinkhole incident in Gangdong District, Seoul, causing shock and criticism. Given the nature of entertainment, the approach should have been more cautious, but it has instead become a hurtful experience for the bereaved, leading to a simultaneous outpouring of empathy and concern from viewers.
Previously, on the 30th, the victim's sister, Ms. A, revealed the DM sent by the production team through her social media, sparking controversy. The production team had attempted to recruit by mentioning an SNS post made by the bereaved family, asking if they would be willing to receive consultation.
However, this approach triggered deep anger from the bereaved. Ms. A said, "Is this entertainment? Is it mockery?" and added, "If you switch places, what kind of concerns could my family possibly share on a show to receive comfort? This approach itself is rude and out of common sense," criticizing the production team strongly. She noted, "We have been enduring a lot, but this is too much," directly pointing out the team's hasty judgment.
As the controversy grew, the 'Ask Us Anything Fortune Teller' side eventually acknowledged that the recruitment attempt was indeed true. According to OSEN, the program's representatives expressed, "It was an unwise decision," and apologized to the bereaved. They also promised to strengthen the program's recruitment process to prevent a recurrence.
Nonetheless, the public expressed shock over the approach that did not respect the bereaved's position, stating, "It's shocking that they approached it as a broadcast material rather than offering condolences," "Is receiving consultation from celebrities truly a comfort?" and "Content came before empathy," among other criticisms. However, there are also voices saying not to push too hard, as the production team has reflected on their mistakes and bowed in apology.
Following the production team's apology, there is focus on what changes in production attitude and system improvements will actually follow.
[OSEN]