Veteran actors Kim Young-ok and Sunwoo Yongeo sparked controversy side by side over pregnancy remarks that "crossed the line."
On the 25th, a new episode of the web content "Monthly grandmother's house" titled "Dubai jjondeuk cookie, after bomdong bibimbap next is definitely A(irine)xHal(money)" was released on the YouTube channel Kim Young Ok.
In the released video, with Red Velvet member Irene appearing as a guest, the two were shown having various conversations. While talking, Kim Young-ok asked Irene, "Do you like cooking?" Irene replied, "I really do it sometimes. Once or twice a year," and said, "I really only cook when I feel like I want to take care of myself a little."
Then Kim Young-ok asked, "You think about things like marriage, right? You're not going to do it?" Irene, taken aback, said, "Marriage?" and then carefully said, "I'll get married someday, but right now..." In addition, Kim Young-ok made a remark that seemed to hurry her into marriage, asking, "Someday? Isn't there an issue with fertility?"
After the video was released, netizens reacted with divided responses. Some treated explicit remarks about "marriage" and "pregnancy" toward an active girl group as an entertainment element, while others pointed out that it could be perceived as rude.
This is not the first time a veteran actor's "pregnancy" remark has sparked controversy. Earlier, actor Sunwoo Yongeo also became the center of attention for making multiple "pressuring to get pregnant" remarks toward staff on her YouTube channel.
In January, after having a company dinner with production staff, when the production staff couple said they had no children, Sunwoo Yongeo emphasized the importance of children, saying, "Why do I tell people to have kids? Now they're happy living by themselves, but when you're over 80 like me, children are the ones you rely on. You don't know who will go first."
Even when the production staff replied, "We plan to try next year," she continued, "But sorry, you can't decide to have children next year or the year after. It's not like farming where you can say 'I'll farm this year.' Childbearing doesn't work like that. You have to accept what heaven gives you," and added, "Don't regret it after I'm dead," continuing her nagging.
In a video released in February, she also told a male staff member, "Turn off this thing for men (heated seat). You know why? Men need to have a cold lower body," saying, "Men's lower bodies need to be cold. That way giving birth and those things get better," and toward a female staff member, she repeatedly brought up pregnancy, saying, "Come with your husband and sleep together once. Then make a baby. In a warm room," stirring debate.
Ultimately, the core of the controversy lies not in the intent of the remarks but in the "awareness of the times." Things that might once have been taken as natural advice are now interpreted as intruding on individual choice and territory. Discussions of "marriage" and "childbearing" have become questions that are burdensome to dismiss with laughter. As times change, critics say it is time to consider boundaries even in entertainment.
[photo] OSEN DB / YouTube capture
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