Controversies surrounding OTT programs deepens

Controversies surrounding OTT programs deepens: K-DRAMA&FILM / 연합뉴스 / 2023-02-04 19:36:43

▲This photo shows a captured image of the controversial scene from 'SNL Korea Season 3.' (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲This photo shows a captured image of the controversial scene from 'Physical 100.' (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲This photo, provided by Netflix show a scene from 'Physical 100.' (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL February 4 (Yonhap) -- Various entertainment shows being premiered throughout the OTT services are under a lot of heat after featuring brutal action scenes from school bullying to physical fight between athletic male and female.

According to the broadcasting industry on Saturday, Coupang Play’s entertainment show “SNL Korea Season 3” received a lot of heat after creating a episode regarding school bullying.

The video released on January 28 under the title of “The Calorie” is a parody of Netflix’s original series “The Glory” which is a drama series about a female protagonist who seeks revenge on those who destroyed her childhood.

Throughout “The Glory,” there is a scene were protagonist Moon Dong-eun acted by Song Hye-kyo and Jun Ji-so getting tortured by her classmates Park Yeon-jin acted by Lim Ji-yeon and Shin Ye-eun with heated up hair straightener and more.

The SNL episode parodies the scene using the hair straightener on fish jerky while making fun of female comedian Lee Soo-ji of her obesity.

When the comedian Joo Hyun-young burns the Fish Jerky, Lee Soo-ji who gets bullied for her obese outlook, suffers while shouting out “You have to eat it now or it will burn”

“The Calorie” video which was uploaded on to the official YouTube channel of Coupang Play surpassed over 20 thousand views within three days since the upload reviving a lot of attention.

Although majorities of the comments showcase positive reviews of the parody video, however some raises their voice on the uncomfortable nature of the subject matter.

The hair straightener scene featured within “The Glory” was featured based on the actual bullying incident which took place at a middle school located in Cheongju of North Chungcheong province in 2006.

Since there is an actual victim living around us, some of the viewers address their concerns, by stating “Using school bullying as a source of creating humor cannot be accepted,” adding “I cant seem to find what’s so funny, it crossed the line one shouldn’t have.”

Continuing on, one of the segments featured within the SNL Korea “MZ Office” is receiving a decent amount of criticism as well.

“MZ Office” depicts a story of the conflicting situations MZ generations face within the office setting, for instance, the newly admitted employ asks superiors to do the small little dirty work, while some of the workers have hard time understanding the task because they are not aware of the language.

Despite of the majority of the MZ generation seemed to relate and enjoy the satire, some of the viewers address the uncomfortable nature of generalizing the MZ generation. Especially the episode which incorporates the battle of nerves, received a lot of criticism for creating more extreme outliers within gender discrimination.

Moreover, Netflix’s “Physical 100” received a lot of heating after showcasing a scene where a male competitor presses a female competitor’s chest with his knees while competing against one another.

Netflix’s variety show “Physical 100” brings in 100 of the competitors known for their well trained physics from body builders, former and current National athletes, fire fighters, police officers and more to compete against one another to find the strongest competitor.

Throughout the episode featuring the death match between competitors one of the male competitors went against a female body builder and throughout the process of the death match the male competitor restrained the female competitor by pressing down on her chest with his knee.

Scene which drew a lot of attention throughout the episode led into a gender controversy.

Some of the critics address that the male competitors lacked the sportsmanship and criticized produces of continuing on with the match without stopping, however the opposing side addressed the fairness and just of competition regardless of the gender especially when the entire purpose of the program is to find the strongest competitor.

OTT programs which are considerably lenient regarding restrictions enforced upon various contents are showcasing more controversial concepts freely compare to variety shows featured on TVs.

Controversies regarding OTT programs might be considered right or wrong based on the angle, however the way audiences showcase their criticism has become stricter.

Kim Sung-soo, South Korean pop culture critic addressed “OTT program has less restrictions because we do have much lenient regulations compare to public TV programs,” adding “Hence the trend on various programs featuring potential controversial subjects.”