Starbucks Korea has drawn ire over the 'Tank Day' controversy that mocked the May 18 Democratic Uprising, and following Musinsa, past controversies of Running Man have resurfaced, drawing criticism. In particular, Running Man is facing renewed scrutiny as past Ilbe-related controversies are reexamined.
Recently, centered on online communities and social media, episode 455 of the SBS variety show Running Man that aired on June 2, 2019, is again drawing attention.
In that broadcast, to commemorate the program's ninth anniversary and ahead of their first domestic fan meeting, the members played a mini game to determine the design rights for a merchandise T-shirt. At that time, when Kim Jong Kook targeted Lee Kwangsoo and Jeon So Min's yellow team and said, "I think the yellow team would have put everything on number 1," Jeon So Min coughed as if nervous. At that moment, a caption read, "When you tap 1, 'eok' choking fits occur."
Protests followed saying this evoked the torture and death of the late Park Jong Cheol. Zero died after being waterboarded by police, and there was suspicion that it mocked the police's false explanation that "he hit the desk and died suddenly."
SBS apologized, saying, "It was meant to satirize the recording situation and there was no intent. If it caused discomfort to viewers, we will be more careful in the future," and the scene was removed in editing. It was also reported that the production team called the Park Jong Cheol Memorial Foundation to apologize.
Running Man was also embroiled in controversy in 2016 over captions that used Ilbe terminology. In the Sept. 4, 2016, broadcast, Kim Jong Kook, pointing to Gary as the member who would block a goal, combined the name of goalkeeper Lee Woon Jae and said, "we are Gaewoonjae," but during the game a caption read, "this time 'Gaewoonji' super save." Viewers criticized the production team for using the Ilbe term 'unji' in the captions, and the program received a recommendation from the Korea Communications Standards Commission.
Meanwhile, Starbucks held a 'Tank Day' promotion on the May 18 Democratic Uprising memorial day on the 18th, using phrases such as "tap the desk!" which drew backlash. Shinsegae chairman Chung Yong-jin dismissed the head of Starbucks Korea and executives and issued an official apology.
President Lee Jae-myung also mentioned the controversy on social media and shared a Musinsa ankle sock advertisement from seven years ago, criticizing it as "an ad that insults and mocks the torture and death of activist Park Jong Cheol and the June democratic uprising that resulted from it." Musinsa reissued an apology, saying, "We bow our heads again and deeply apologize for the wrongdoing committed in 2019," after the controversy resurfaced.
[Photo] SBS Running Man broadcast capture
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