NewJeans' fans accuse Coupang Play for mocking Hanni on 'SNL Korea'

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NewJeans' fans accuse Coupang Play for mocking Hanni on 'SNL Korea'

Published: 21 Oct. 2024, 17:55 Updated: 21 Oct. 2024, 18:13

Actors Kim Eui-sung, left, and Ji Ye-eun impersonating Hanwha Ocean’s head of Geoje shipyard Jung In-sub and NewJeans member Hanni [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Coupang Play came under fire for allegedly creating misogynistic and racist content on its "SNL Korea" comedy series, especially regarding its recent portrayal of girl group NewJeans' member Hanni and Nobel laureate Han Kang.

"SNL Korea" released the eighth episode of its sixth season on Saturday, which included episodes parodying Hanni's National Assembly testimony and author Han based on her previous media appearances.

On the controversial episode, actor Ji Ye-eun impersonated Hanni, a Vietnamese Australian, imitating her pronunciation and satirizing the hearing where Hanni testified before the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee regarding a workplace harassment allegation. This episode has sparked controversy online, with claims of "distortion and belittling [Hanni],” with the group’s fans and netizens criticizing the show for excessively mocking Hanni's accent.

The episode also mimicked novelist Han, the first Korean and Asian woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. Actor Kim Ah-young impersonated Han, exaggerating her physical appearance, such as her hunched posture and squinted eyes, which has also sparked controversy.

Since the episode was released on Saturday, NewJeans' fans have been filing complaints against the program on the National Petition website. They claim that "by mocking a specific individual, Coupang Play has violated broadcasting regulations."

Jung In-sub, Hanwha Ocean’s head of Geoje shipyard, front, taking a selfie with NewJeans' Hanni while waiting to testify at a National Assembly audit in western Seoul on Oct. 15. [NEWS1]

Posts on X that criticize Coupang Play for mocking Hanni and Han Kang [SCREEN CAPTURE]

One complaint said that "exaggerating [Hanni's] imperfect Korean is clearly a form of discrimination," while another said that the episode is "defamatory and constitutes secondary harm." Another complaint said that the episode "risks misleading viewers about the National Assembly hearing."

The fans further claimed that Coupang Play violated broadcasting regulations related to diversity, multiculturalism and more.

Along with the petition, NewJeans’ fans are demanding an apology from Coupang Play on social media platforms like X by rallying under the hashtag #SNLKorea_Apologize_to_Hanni in English and Korean.

The fans are also sharing screenshots of them canceling their Coupang Play subscriptions.

The thumbnail of Gangbuk District Office's controversial YouTube clip that NewJeans' fans claim mocks Hanni [SCREEN CAPTURE]

NewJeans fans are also taking issue with a video from a local government office that they claim mocks Hanni.

Gangbuk District Office uploaded a video titled "Sorry" on its official YouTube channel on Friday, which featured a woman
wearing Hanni's outfit from the National Assembly hearing and the member's name. In the video, the woman says, "Just like Hanni, say you don't understand it. Then the lawmakers will just let it slide."

Fans accused the office of mocking Hanni and following the backlash, the local government made the clip unavailable for public viewing. On Monday, the Gangbuk District Office posted an apology on its official YouTube channel.

“We sincerely apologize for causing great concern to many people due to the video we posted,” it said in the post.

“Contrary to our original intention, we have taken the criticism that the video contained discriminatory content very seriously and have made the video unavailable. We once again sincerely apologize to all those who felt uncomfortable due to this video.”

“We will be more careful and mindful for future content creation processes.”

As of press time, SNL Korea has not made any official statements regarding its controversial episode.

BY HA SU-YOUNG, YOON SEUNG-JIN [yoon.seungjin@joongang.co.kr]