[TALK OF THE TOWN]Magicians want to make revealing segment on ‘Sponge 2.0’ disappear

Korean magicians are upset. They’ve raised their voices against KBS 2TV’s “Sponge 2.0,” an informative variety show that airs at 6:40 p.m. on Saturdays.

In a regular segment of the show, magic tricks are revealed ? which is what got on the magicians’ nerves.

Last Friday a magician silently picketed in front the KBS studios in Yeouido, western Seoul.

Fellow magicians, including celebrity Lee Eun-gyul, joined in by posting opposition to the show on their blogs.

On Monday, the Korean Magic Society sent a letter of protest against the exposure of the magic secrets to the show’s producers.

Their letter claims that magic needs the element of surprise and deserves admiration and respect.

It also asks the TV staff to suspend the segment and apologize for publicly exposing the tricks.

“It is O.K. to air generalized magic but going beyond that ? like revealing secret equipment ? spoils magical fantasy and originality,” said Choi Byung-rak, vice president of the Korean Magic Society.

“Also, it harms magician’s livelihoods,” he added.