SBS' 'I Want to Know That' faced criticism for revealing too many specific details of the alleged method used by suspect Kim So-young (21) in the Gangbuk motel drug serial murder case, and SBS delivered its position.
On the 25th, SBS told OSEN, "The partial exposure of drug images in this broadcast was not intended to provide information about a specific drug, but to inform the public of the factual truth about how even ordinary prescription drugs commonly encountered in our daily lives can become a terrifying weapon when abused to a 'lethal dose' level by criminals," it said in an official statement.
It added, "One cold pill is a remedy, but tens of pills taken with alcohol can become a life-threatening poison," and emphasized, "The drugs shown in the broadcast are also prescription drugs normally used in psychiatry, but attention should be focused on the 'cruelty' that the criminal maliciously administered them in large quantities."
SBS also explained, "Simply expressing that a certain combination (recipe) of drugs makes murder possible can instill unnecessary fear in the public. To prevent such misunderstandings and concerns about copycat crimes or misuse, the production team thoroughly concealed specific drug names that could raise such concerns."
Earlier, the SBS current affairs program 'I Want to Know That' aired on the 21st and covered the Kim So-young case, conveying relatively detailed information about the drugs used in the crimes. The program reported that Kim So-young ground several types of pills, including benzodiazepine-class drugs, the day before the crimes, mixed them into a hangover cure bottle, and victims collapsed after drinking them. After the broadcast, a summary video uploaded to the official YouTube channel also exposed related information without sufficiently concealing it.
The problem emerged immediately after the broadcast. On the 23rd, posts circulated on X (formerly Twitter) and other social media with phrases like "guys, the recipe is out" that compiled the names and photos of eight drugs believed to have been used by Kim So-young. Those posts quickly spread, accumulating millions of views, and online users expressed concerns such as, "This could spur copycat crimes rather than serve the public interest," and, "Isn't this effectively a manual rather than a warning?"
Criticism grew especially because the information was consumed beyond merely conveying an overview of the crimes, extending to matching the types and appearance of the drugs. In fact, some netizens responded, "Even if it was shown on the broadcast, it's dangerous to share drug types in such detail," and, "Isn't this giving hints to potential criminals?"
Meanwhile, Kim So-young was indicted on charges of handing drinks laced with drugs to six men in their 20s and 30s from October last year to February this year, causing them to lose consciousness or die. Of the six victims, two died and four were injured.
Kim So-young, who was detained and indicted on charges including murder, special injury and violating the Narcotics Control Act, is scheduled to have her first trial at the Seoul Northern District Court on April 9.
[Photo] Provided by SBS / YouTube capture
[OSEN]