Comedian Jang Dong Min is under fire for controversy due to his comment that he had made in the variety show. Public’s criticism towards him is escalating demanding that Jang should leave the show. However, the production team has not made any comment on this.
tvN’s new variety show ‘Player’ featured “Show Me the Player” which is a parody of “Show Me the Money” on September 1st. Jang’s words in the show caused a heated argument.
Jang played a role as a judge together with Rapper Paloalto. The program added more fun by hosting High School Rapper Ha Sun Ho, Singer John Park and VIXX Ravi.
The scene that became contentious was in the first preliminary test of Ha Sun Ho. After Ha finished her a cappella rap performance, she asked, “I have done this much to deserve it. Please give me the necklace.” Jang replied, “Do you want this?” As Ha Sun Ho repeated her request to get the necklace, Jang told her, “I also want your phone number.”
Ha Sun Ho said, “I am just 18 years old,” and Jang, being jeered by the audience, said, “I will dismiss you.” Ha was eliminated from the contest. Player’s production team added a caption saying, “Ha being dismissed as she has not given her number.” They also released a video clip with a title, “Asking Number from Ha Sun Ho? Jang Dong Min Clank Clank Promoted to MC”. The clip was created as a comic version. “Clank Clank” indicated the sound of putting handcuffs on criminals.
The scene where forty one year old Jang requests a phone number from a minor made viewers feel uncomfortable. After the show, the program’s website board was flooded with netizens’ demands that Jang leaves the show. Viewers criticized Jang’s disagreeable action towards a minor and also pointed at the fact that Ha was a female participant, a victim of the sexual objectification of women.
Public's arrows that are denunciating Jang Dong Min are pouring. He was previously criticized due to his inappropriate statements of women demeaning, degrading single parent families and humiliating survivors of Sampoong Department Store. His mileage for controversy has reached its limit. Some netizens argued that this scene became an issue because of Jang Dong Min being at the center.
Others point to the production team claiming that they, too, must be reproached. The team released the clip that shows a subtitle, “Ha being dismissed as she has not given her number.” They also added another caption, “a joking remark,” and “Clank Clank.”
Some viewers complained that the production team also escalated a controversy and joked about the scene. It was a risky attempt for the program to set this controversial scene in their scenario. It was not an impromptu show. If the production crew had been aware of a potential risk of Jang’s remark, they would have removed the scene. However, his problematic comment was even more highlighted by the show’s production staff. Viewers are claiming that the team also should give an apology.
Although the online debate is growing even more heated, neither Jang nor the production team has made any comments.
