Youtuber Um Eun-hyang's live broadcast, which had raised expectations because it would feature writer Im Sung-han's first-ever appearance on YouTube, ended in disappointment when after more than an hour of back-and-forth she appeared only by voice on the phone.
On the 17th, YouTuber Um Eun-hyang held a live broadcast on her personal channel. In particular, the event drew attention after being announced in advance that drama writer Im Sung-han would attend as a special guest. It was Im Sung-han's first live broadcast, known since her 1990 debut for embracing the "mysteriousness" persona.
Writer Im Sung-han is a star drama writer who was loved for works such as Bogo Tto Bogo (See and See Again), The Mermaid, Oh My Lady, The New Tales of Gisaeng, Apgujeong Midnight Sun, and Aurora Princess. At one point she announced her retirement, but under the pen name Phoebe she returned with works including Love (ft. Marriage & Divorce) series and Ahssi Durian.
She is currently meeting viewers with TV CHOSUN weekend drama Doctor Shin. Because Im Sung-han has attracted attention with shocking developments and themes in each work, her first live broadcast captured drama fans' attention. In particular, she emphasized lines in many works such as "even cancer cells are alive," and she highlighted philosophies about millet pancakes and homemade food in dialogue; she also frequently included shamanistic elements such as spirit possession and mediumship in her works, which drew attention. Im Sung-han's distinctive tendency toward intense plot development has become like a trademark.
Meanwhile, on her personal YouTube channel Um Eun-hyang has delighted viewers by cleverly parodying characteristics of Im Sung-han's works. She has also claimed to be a long-time fan of Im Sung-han's works. Because of her fandom, Im Sung-han contacted her directly and the live broadcast was arranged, raising expectations.
To that end, Um Eun-hyang pushed forward with the live broadcast recently despite undergoing vascular tumor surgery. She shared her condition, saying, "I had leg surgery not long ago. A vascular tumor was found, so I had a tumor removal operation on my calf, and today is exactly one week since then. After leg surgery you have to keep your leg elevated. It's not an issue of personality or arrogance; my leg hurts, so please understand," she said.
Um Eun-hyang's favorite writer was Im Sung-han to the point of showing fighting spirit despite the injury. She said, "My favorite writers are Im Sung-han and Kim Soo-hyun. When I wake up I watch the two of them repeatedly. So when I make parodies of the two, it's not because I analyzed them but because I watched them so much that I understood. Among Im Sung-han's works I like The Mermaid and The New Tales of Gisaeng the most. The Kim Soo-hyun work I'm watching again now is A Thousand Days' Promise. But today is an Im Sung-han special, so I'll focus on Im Sung-han's works," showing she had made thorough preparations.
However, the live broadcast that started at 7:45 p.m. proceeded for more than an hour without Im Sung-han. A chair labeled "writer Im Sung-han" sat next to Um Eun-hyang but it was empty. During that time Um Eun-hyang made millet pancakes that frequently appeared in Im Sung-han's works and revealed behind-the-scenes stories, saying she actually has about 640,000 subscribers but, counting potential subscribers, promised to reach 1 million and hold a live with Im Sung-han, using such tactics to kill time.
But in the end viewers could not see Im Sung-han in person. She appeared only by voice on a phone connection. Viewers who waited nearly 1 hour and 20 minutes protested, saying "you baited viewers" out of expectation they would see Im Sung-han's actual appearance. However, some said, "Isn't it something to at least hear her by phone?", expressing enthusiastic fandom and gladness toward Im Sung-han.
Of course, during the more than hour-long phone call Im Sung-han talked with Um Eun-hyang, answering in detail all questions surrounding her, starting with millet pancakes, explaining shamanistic elements that appear as themes in her works and the endings of The Mermaid and Love (ft. Marriage & Divorce) 3 that had been controversial. Even so, because the result of waiting an hour was only a phone connection, criticism that it was "baiting" could not be quelled. In the end Um Eun-hyang added an apology, saying, "To get 1 million on YouTube you have to bait some attention. I apologize."
[Photo] Source: SNS and YouTube.
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