KBS2 entertainment program 'Boss's ears are donkey ears' has been engulfed in fierce backlash due to comments made by announcer Kim Jin-woong. The production team has even issued an official apology, but viewers' anger has not easily subsided, drawing attention to the future of the program.
- Official apology from the production team
On the 27th, the 'Boss's ears are donkey ears' team stated in a press release, "We sincerely apologize to many for the concern and discomfort caused by the program aired last week," adding, "We will pay more careful attention throughout the entire production process to prevent a recurrence. We will take this incident as a lesson and respond with responsible and mature broadcasting."
- The incident originated from Kim Jin-woong's comments
The issue arose from the broadcast on the 24th. The episode featured announcer Eom Ji-in receiving marriage counseling with announcers Nam Hyun-jong and Kim Jin-woong. During this process, Kim Jin-woong stated, "I can't live like senior Do Gyeong-wan. It may be disrespectful to the senior, but I can't live as someone's subordinate," sparking controversy.
This comment directly mentioned and compared Do Gyeong-wan, a KBS-born announcer and the husband of singer Jang Yoon-jung, causing Jang Yoon-jung to immediately express her displeasure. She posted on social media, "There is no relationship, yet. The words or actions that make the opponent unable to laugh cannot be disguised as jokes or pranks. There are no subordinates among family members," conveying her feelings.
- Apology and acceptance, but the aftermath continues
As the controversy spread, Kim Jin-woong remarked, "I am still inexperienced and overly eager, which made me reckless. I said something I should not have," and apologized to Jang Yoon-jung and Do Gyeong-wan. He communicated his apology via text, while Jang Yoon-jung remarked, "It must have taken courage to apologize, so I thought I should accept it considering his feelings." Do Gyeong-wan also noted, "My wife and I respect and consider each other, and we are living strongly," accepting the apology.
However, viewers' reactions are cold. Despite framing it as 'disrespectful' towards Do Gyeong-wan, criticisms emerged that it crossed the line of rudeness, with specific references to Kim Jin-woong's past performance that displayed 'over-eagerness and a lack of situational awareness,' comments hinting at his desire to become a freelancer, and various broadcasting incidents being reexamined, leading to fierce condemnation.
- Calls for accountability from the production team
Viewers' criticism has extended beyond Kim Jin-woong to the production team. The scene included a subtitle reading 'What kind of major incident is this?' revealing that the production team aired it despite being aware of potential consequences. In response, viewers criticized, "They have neglected their responsibility to protect the performers," and, "They could have edited it out, but did they intentionally escalate the controversy?"
Some netizens are responding with calls for the program's cancellation, saying, "It's a program that is too rude," and, "I don't know if there is a script, but the attitudes of the performers are getting worse," and, "Even if it's entertainment, there should be a minimum standard." In reality, petitions for Kim Jin-woong's departure and for the cancellation of 'Boss's ears are donkey ears' are underway.
- VOD service suspended, 'Boss's ears' at a crossroads
Currently, the problematic broadcast from the 24th has been suspended from rewatching and VOD services. With the intersection of the performer's rude comments and the production team's irresponsible broadcasting, 'Boss's ears are donkey ears' faces an unprecedented crisis of potential cancellation.
As 'Boss's ears are donkey ears' carries the spark of controversy, it seems that a responsible response from KBS entertainment is urgently needed to navigate this challenge.
[Photo] OSEN DB, broadcast capture
[OSEN]