'Hidden Eye' is running for its 5th and 10th anniversaries.
On the 11th, a press conference was held for the 1st anniversary of MBC Every1's 'Hidden Eye' at the MBC Dream Center in Goyang City, Gyeonggi Province. The conference featured participants including Kim Seong-joo, Park Ha-sun, Soyou, Kim Dong-hyun, Kwon Il-yong, Yoo Chang-won, Lee Dae-woo, along with producer Hwang Seong-kyu and broadcasting head Kim Gu-san.
'Hidden Eye' is a crime analysis commentary show that examines incidents using various videos such as CCTV, body cams, and black boxes. Over the past year, it has received consistent praise and is seen as pioneering a new genre of 'crime prevention programs.'
'Hidden Eye' vividly presents various crime situations that anyone can experience in daily life, enhancing viewer engagement with sharp analyses from 3COPS, and related videos spread quickly online, maintaining its popularity.
Another highlight of 'Hidden Eye' is the chemistry among the cast. MC Kim Seong-joo conveys the CCTV footage more vividly with his stable hosting, and Park Ha-sun calmly analyzes incidents while building trust with viewers through empathetic reactions.
Soyou, 'the corner police,' delivers refreshingly frank statements that match the sharpness of 3COPS, while Kim Dong-hyun injects vitality into the program with his unique perspective. The cast members, each possessing different personalities and expertise, create a natural synergy that enhances the quality of the program.
On that day, director Hwang Seong-kyu noted, "Recently, a middle school in Paju reportedly watched 'Hidden Eye' together. We also received messages from viewers saying they enjoy watching 'Hidden Eye' with their families. When we first planned this program, we wanted to create a show that encompasses all ages and generations, so I'm glad that purpose has been realized."
The 1st anniversary reflections from the cast were also significant. First, current police officer and 'crime hunter' Lee Dae-woo expressed, "At the beginning, I was worried about how to do this, but now it's already been over a year. The reason I participated was not just to think about serious crimes, but to introduce and prevent crimes that are closely linked to daily life, and I feel rewarded to have participated well. It would be great if 'Hidden Eye' could evolve into a long-standing program like the once-popular 'Investigation Captain' in the next 10 years, rather than just being a program for one year."
Kwon Il-yong shared, "Director Lee Dae-woo is my police colleague. When I started working 36 years ago, I wondered if such a program could help prevent crime and provide insights into criminal psychology, and I questioned if my chemistry with Lee Dae-woo and Yoo Chang-won would be good. It seems like there's a narrative behind our lives. I'm also learning a lot and enjoying filming."
Kim Seong-joo, who hosts many programs, expressed his emotions at the 1st anniversary, saying, "As you know, many programs are created, hold press events, and disappear; such occurrences are common nowadays. Just recently, 'Masked Singer' had its 10th anniversary, but it didn't hold a press conference. However, holding a press conference for the 1st anniversary is also a testament to the difficulty of surviving for a year in today's environment."
Kim Seong-joo continued, "I find it difficult to make it through 1 year or 3 years, and once something survives 3 years, it becomes a long-lived program lasting 5 or 10 years. Kim Gu-san, the head of the department, urged us to think long-term, and I'm feeling good that such a day has come."
Park Ha-sun stated, "I actually thought it would turn out like this. Because Kim Seong-joo is hosting, and 3COPS are here, along with Soyou and Kim Dong-hyun. During a recent dinner, Kim Seong-joo treated us to Korean beef and said, 'As long as we don't have any accidents from this, we can continue.' I'm trying hard to avoid accidents and being careful while driving. I will keep going."
Director Hwang Seong-kyu attributed the success of 'Hidden Eye' reaching its 1st anniversary to the fact that, "Regardless, I think the comments and analyses from the three members of 3COPS were exceptional. During general communication, their discussions are different, and other entertainers also posed different questions, which was valid in our interaction. Kim Seong-joo's flawless hosting and the fact that there are no instances of missing audio in CCTV footage play significant strengths in our program."
What are the most memorable incidents during the recording of 'Hidden Eye' on its 1st anniversary? Kim Seong-joo, who has three children, mentioned, "Naturally, I focus on crimes related to children. The ages of the children range from college students to high school and elementary school students, so I deeply empathize with incidents involving students. The most tragic incidents were those of a death from corporal punishment in Taekwondo where a child fell onto a mattress, and the 'tooth daddy' Lee Yong-hak case. Nowadays, fewer children are born, but just because I cherish my child does not mean they are safe. Overall, I concluded that we need to care for all children so that our child can also grow up healthy and safe."
Park Ha-sun also noted, "As a mother, I become more concerned about child abuse and news related to children. Additionally, I have dealt with many drug-related incidents, and I didn't realize how close they are. I think a lot about needing to be more cautious and observing my surroundings."
Kim Dong-hyun stated, "As an athlete, I am shocked when I see malicious actions from black belts and former competitors. I share such stories with juniors and colleagues. A moment of mistake could lead to a downfall overnight. It's something we need to be cautious about, and I've discussed this matter."
Park Ha-sun and Soyou, as participants in 'Hidden Eye' and primary viewers, consistently showcase dazzling reactions every week. Their honest expressions of emotions enhance viewer immersion. When asked if they have personal standards for their reactions, Soyou first replied, "I try to moderate my expressions. I get angry too, but I can't say that on air. I only curse internally."
Soyou remarked, "I can't hide a facial expression that shows anger, but I hold back on expressing it verbally since it's a broadcast. I try to restrain myself, but after watching, I feel very angry and sad, and I wonder how things will turn out. I think I will end up talking about such experiences, and it feels stressful. I tend to try to be moderate in that regard."
Listening to Soyou, Park Ha-sun said, "So that's how you do it. When I look at the monitor, my expression always looks unattractive, while Soyou always looks pretty," gaining insight and eliciting laughter. Park Ha-sun added, "I actually tend to be strong in my reactions. My husband, Ryu Soo-young, no longer reacts either. Except for my daughter, no one seems worried about me, and I guess that's how I make a living."
Regarding her experiences often appearing on 'Hidden Eye,' Park Ha-sun mentioned, "In pre-interviews, while not every experience can be included, they tend to focus on significant ones. I now trust the production team enough to be candid, and they edit the material well. I'm comfortable with it now."
Hearing this, Kim Seong-joo expressed, "With Park Ha-sun, during my first broadcasting, I was surprised at how different the image presented was from the words spoken. When I mutter to myself, I often think, 'They use such expressions?'; she provides very honest responses."
Kim Seong-joo commented, "It seems that Soyou was already someone who followed the program before we started. She often uses very crude expressions among us, and it appears she has been protected through editing. It seems that the emotional expressions of these two can represent a large audience due to the trust they have with the production team."
Remarkably, Kim Seong-joo prepares for 'Hidden Eye' an hour earlier than others. He explained, "I get a preview of the videos being aired today an hour ahead of time and take part in the process I'm curious about as a viewer. Since I'm responsible for the broadcast, I check everything meticulously beforehand. I usually remember incidents that happen close to home. Typically, there are regional characteristics involved. In my neighborhood, there are many one-way streets. If you don't go one way, you save a substantial amount of time. However, there are criminals who target those paths."
Kim Seong-joo noted, "That could be us. So the amount of money lost isn't trivial. As someone whose face is well-known, I remarked after this program that my sense of civic responsibility has strengthened, saying, 'We four must not cause a public nuisance.' If we act out, would the viewers who watch our show trust our reactions? Our civic responsibility must be strong, and we have made such a commitment."
Given that the program deals with real incidents, is there not a 'legal risk'? Producer Hwang replied, "Up to now, there haven't been any objections raised. At present, the law isn't particularly strict. The disclosure system for suspects' identities also needs improvement, and there is a balancing act to consider. When there's a potential legal risk, we discuss it with experts to decide if it's a risk worth taking."
Producer Hwang explained why he recruited 3COPS members Yoo Chang-won, Kwon Il-yong, and Lee Dae-woo: "When I was involved with 'Rural Police' and 'City Police,' I got to know Director Lee Dae-woo and learned that he was colleagues with Professor Kwon Il-yong. Also, I discovered that Professor Kwon Il-yong and profiler Yoo Chang-won are close friends. Typically, when crime programs encompass only one expert and entertainers, I thought having all three of them together would lead to an engaging back-and-forth, so I requested their participation."
What did the three think about this recruitment? First, Officer Lee Dae-woo shared, "The reason I appeared on the broadcast is that, although I live as a police officer, I have worked to alleviate the public's biases about police through both online and offline means. Displaying the raw image of police allows citizens to perceive them as more approachable. 'Hidden Eye' seeks not only to discuss closely related daily crimes, but also plays a role in preventive measures to protect the public, so I participated without reservation and am satisfied with the experience."
Kwon Il-yong remarked, "I didn't agree to participate wholeheartedly right away; I hesitated due to Professor Yoo Chang-won also being involved. Honestly, I resonated with the producer's remarks that no single incident can be described within a single category. Since the three of us have different roles and characters, we have varied perspectives on incidents, providing an opportunity to look at the whole picture and share our interpretations according to our respective fields."
Notably, Kwon Il-yong mentioned having first met Lee Dae-woo and Yoo Chang-won during the program, recalling, "At the outset, I was awkward and we didn't use informal language. I'd say things like, 'Could you ask that?' during the relay broadcasts, but now that we share the waiting room together, discussions occur, and I believe our perspectives have evolved as we interpret incidents more progressively."
Yoo Chang-won shared, "When the production team first asked me if I could work with Kwon Il-yong and Lee Dae-woo, I hesitated but found it intriguing. While I knew Professor Kwon was a friend, I had never received a request to work together before. Through working with both of them, I have learned a lot, found it reassuring, and felt a bit troubled at times when Kwon Il-yong picked on me."
Yoo Chang-won described Officer Lee Dae-woo as "a police officer I have always supported. During the era when police faced scrutiny for outdoor activities, I established the 'Crime Hunter' café. Therefore, I cheered for him and harbored a hidden fan's admiration. I was excited to work together and could meet him in person, but he turned out to be a comical character."
Yoo Chang-won explained, "My reason for joining the program is that with the amount of crime content produced recently, there is a tendency to trivialize crime by overly highlighting details and brutality on social media and online platforms. This leads to a desensitization toward crime, repeating the trauma of victims' wounds. It has been my strong belief that public broadcast must maintain focus, and I hold many discussions with the production team. I continuously worry about any negative impacts and engage in extensive debates. However, I've been immensely satisfied with the results of this year."
'Hidden Eye,' now marking its 1st anniversary, seeks to delve into various crime incidents and aims to contribute by raising awareness of safety and crime prevention in our society.
Meanwhile, MBC Every1's 'Hidden Eye' airs every Monday at 7:40 p.m.
[Photo] Choi Kyu-han, reporter.
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