K-Show 'Salty Tour' Reprimanded For Airing Inappropriate Scene of BIGBANG's Seungri & Gugudan's Kim Se Jung
Korean variety show Salty Tour has been reprimanded after it aired a scene that deemed to have violated the gender equality laws. The controversial scene featured BIGBANG member Seungri and Gugudan's Kim Se Jung as guest stars.
The episode in which the scene was featured was aired on August 18. In it, Seungri asked Se Jung to pour beer to the male cast members whom she favors the most.
"Since you're on Salty Tour... There are 5 guys here right now. Forget about their status and popularity. [Choose by] just considering their personality and style," Seungri first said to Se Jung. Then he added, "The five guys can empty their cups now. Se Jung, you hold this [beer] and pour it to the person you favor."
At first, Se Jung seems to be worried about what she was asked to do but eventually poured drinks to two of her favorite and two of her least favorite cast members. Netizens quickly reacted on the scene. Many were upset with the situation that perceives to reflect a scene from an adult establishment.
The Korea Communications Standards Commission decided to penalize tvN and its affiliates OtvN and XtvN for airing the segment. Apparently, the show has violated laws on gender equality, maintenance of dignity, and more.
"The content could've been interpreted as sexual harassment. However, they aired it despite the concerns and possibility of criticism, and the program and the producers damaged the ethics and emotions of the viewers," AllKpop quoted a representative of KCSC as saying. Seungri and Kim Se Jung appeared in five episodes of the show.
Meanwhile, Salty Tour is not the only show of Seungri that is under fire lately. The singer's YG Future Strategy Office (also called YG FSO) is accused by some Chinese netizens of racism particularly cast member Yang Hyun Suk.
Many Chinese netizens slammed the Netflix comedy series for the inappropriate portrayal of China and its people. In the recent episode, the show depicted a fictional image of Jinu targeting the hip-hop genre in the country. A map of China was shown in the segment but a big part of the country is missing. The show also featured two characters who were dressed in traditional Chinese clothing but tied up in ropes. One of the men claims, "I'm a pig."
Many netizens claimed that it is a direct mockery of the Chinese and demanding YG Entertainment apologize and cancel the show. Yang Hyun Suk already issued an apology to the Chinese audience and vowed to be cautious in the future.
"I'd like to apologize to the Chinese fans. I have directed the staff to quickly correct, edit, and/or delete the wrong information. We will be more cautious in the future and be strictly careful," Yang Hyun Suk wrote on Instagram.
