The production team of I Live Alone deleted all scenes related to the Japanese publisher accused of covering up child sex crimes.
On the 13th, the MBC entertainment program I Live Alone featured webtoon artist Kian84 meeting Japanese manga artist Junji Ito. Kian84 had long revered Junji Ito as a lifelong role model. Learning this, Japanese-born singer Kangnam contacted Junji Ito's side on behalf of Kian84 to arrange the meeting.
The problem was that the meeting was depicted as taking place at a Japanese publisher. On the broadcast, Kian84 and Kangnam met Junji Ito at the Shogakukan offices. Shogakukan is a publisher that has produced many manga beloved not only in Japan but also in Korea, such as Detective Conan and Inuyasha. Works by Junji Ito, including Uzumaki and Gyo, were also published through this company.
However, Shogakukan has recently faced criticism in Japan over allegations that it systematically covered up child sex offenders. Last month, it caused an uproar in Japan when reports revealed that a manga artist who had committed child sex crimes resumed publishing under a pseudonym at Shogakukan's suggestion. This led a web platform to post an apology. Shogakukan, however, expressed apologies to the victims, saying, "We did not know that a manga artist who was a child sex offender was publishing under a pseudonym."
The incident is recent, and reactions in Japan are reportedly still heated. Nevertheless, viewers in Korea criticized the I Live Alone production team for airing footage of their visit to Shogakukan, calling the composition inappropriate.
In addition, the appearance of a poster for the unreleased-in-Korea Detective Conan film Detective Conan: The Private Eyes' Requiem among Shogakukan's representative works also drew criticism. Detective Conan: The Private Eyes' Requiem is a theatrical installment that cannot be released domestically because it includes scenes that feature Japan's World War II rising sun war flag, raising right-wing controversy in the Detective Conan series.
If we're talking about Detective Conan theatrical films, a newly released film this month, The Wizard of the End, exists. Showing a Japanese poster for the unreleased-in-Korea Detective Conan film Detective Conan: The Private Eyes' Requiem, rather than a film that Korean audiences can easily understand in Korean, also prompted criticism.
In relation to this, the I Live Alone production team did not issue a separate official statement. However, apparently conscious of the criticism, the episode of I Live Alone that was made available as VOD on OTT platforms such as Wavve on the morning of the 15th was edited so that mentions of Shogakukan and Detective Conan were removed.
Originally, Shogakukan was introduced by showing Kian84 and Kangnam visiting the Jinbōchō area, a Tokyo publishing district where Junji Ito's meeting took place. Those scenes were replaced with only vehicle movement shots so they can no longer be seen. Explanations praising Shogakukan, as well as the poster for the Detective Conan film Detective Conan: The Private Eyes' Requiem, were all removed.
This prompt action is welcome. It shows that the production team responded swiftly to viewer reactions after the broadcast. However, the lack of a clear explanation and the appearance of quietly suppressing the controversy leave something to be desired.
Because they were filming the meeting between a cast member and his role model, both Kian84 and the I Live Alone side may have been so excited that they focused only on explaining the situation and overlooked checking for related controversies. Some viewers who watched the broadcast argued that, unless they were fans already interested in Japanese manga, they would not have known, sparking debate over whether the controversy was justified.
Nevertheless, criticism persists because expectations remain for Kian84, a former entertainment awards winner on MBC's flagship program I Live Alone. A more responsible and forthright explanation could have eased the disappointment of longtime fans, which makes the situation more regrettable.
[Photo] OSEN DB, courtesy of MBC.
[OSEN]