The rumor surrounding Ok-soon from season 31 of I'm SOLO is spreading and causing unrest.
On the ENA, SBS Plus broadcast of I'm SOLO that aired on the 13th, Ok-soon's screen time in season 31 was significantly reduced, sparking controversy over a complete edit.
Earlier, Ok-soon was criticized for forming a clique with Young-suk and Jeong-hee and engaging in bullying behavior by gossiping where Sun-ja could hear and openly sneering. Viewers criticized their so-called "playing the bully" behavior, nicknaming them the "The Glory trio" after Netflix's The Glory, and they even protested the production team for not protecting the cast.
In particular, Ok-soon from season 31 had been consistently linked with contestant No. 31 Young-ho before the broadcast, and there had been rumors that she was pregnant out of wedlock and would hold a wedding in September. Angered viewers launched a review bombing campaign on the dental clinic Young-ho runs, and Young-ho quietly closed the review section.
However, the I'm SOLO production team drew backlash by responding in a way that seemed to shield her, without issuing a separate position on Ok-soon's leading role in the bullying. When a deleted clip posted on the official YouTube channel, Chonjang Entertainment, became controversial because Ok-soon had said things like "Did someone die?" and "It looks like a funeral home" to a distressed Sun-ja, the production team suddenly deleted the clip. They also deleted the previously released teaser, reuploaded it after editing out all scenes featuring Ok-soon, and displayed a caption asking viewers to refrain from excessive criticism of the cast.
Even in the broadcast on the 13th, Ok-soon's screen time was noticeably reduced. In that episode, the cast ran to win the super date right, and while Young-suk and Sun-ja were vying for first and second place, Young-suk got her leg tangled and fell. Sun-ja finished first and won the super date right, but when they returned to the lodging, Ok-soon flattered Young-suk, saying, "In our hearts, No. 1 is Young-suk." Young-suk then spread a false claim, saying, "I think my leg got caught on someone's leg and that's why I fell," and Sun-ja, who heard this, hid and cried.
Comforted only by Young-ja, whom she considered an ally, Sun-ja complained of stress and stomach pain. Then Kyung-soo visited Sun-ja and selfishly asked her to use the super date right for Young-suk. Eventually Sun-ja, who collapsed with severe stomach cramps, stopped filming at the production team's recommendation and rushed to the hospital. Even after Sun-ja was taken away, Young-suk expressed resentment that Kyung-soo had said it would be difficult to use the super date right for her, mocking Sun-ja by saying, "Should I have a good cry too?" Jeong-hee also ignored the ailing Sun-ja as if she hadn't seen her.
After the broadcast, viewers' anger only grew. They were appalled, saying the male cast members who laughed, chatted and had a drinking party while Sun-ja was suffering, and the trio of Ok-soon, Young-suk and Jeong-hee "had lost their humanity." Moreover, viewers were outraged by the production team's editing policy that appeared to downplay the perpetrator's actions through cuts while highlighting the victim's suffering by increasing their screen time. Some have even moved to file complaints with the Korea Communications Standards Commission. Regarding the controversy over a complete edit, I'm SOLO said little, only noting that it would "broadcast according to the flow of the content."
Meanwhile, claims arose that the I'm SOLO production team's editing of Ok-soon's screen time was due to her threats. A post on a workplace community read, "Ok-soon is pregnant and has been diagnosed with neurasthenia, absolute rest required," and "She said she'll hold the production responsible if anything happens to the baby and asked them to edit accordingly." When the production team refused, Ok-soon allegedly threatened to "kill herself," after which the production team accepted the editing request. The truth of that rumor has not been verified, but because public anger toward the "The Glory trio" led by Ok-soon had reached a peak, the rumor spread widely across various communities and caused a ripple effect.
Meanwhile, in connection with the bullying controversy involving Sun-ja, Ok-soon has gone silent after switching her social media to private. Jeong-hee posted an apology, saying, "I felt ashamed the whole time while watching and have reflected on myself a lot. I sincerely apologized to the person involved, and we are getting along. I am sorry for causing discomfort while people were watching," but later deleted the post. In an additional post, she explained, "I deleted it because I was cautious about every word I said. I am sorry for making people uncomfortable," and said, "I will think more deeply and post a formal statement later."
[Photo] ENA, SBS Plus
[OSEN]