'SNL Korea' is in trouble again for its controversial sketches.

In the episode that aired on the 19th, actor Kim Eui-sung guest-starred, while Ji Yeo-eun did a parody of Hanni from NewJeans, who recently appeared as a witness at a national assembly hearing. Kim Ah-young also imitated author Han Kang's acceptance speech for the Nobel Prize.

Hanni testified at the national assembly on the 15th, discussing workplace bullying within HYBE. She spoke about feeling isolated and shared her hope that no one else, whether seniors, juniors, peers, or trainees, has to face the same situation. Hanni tearfully said, "This can happen to anyone, and I hope that no one else has to go through this. I believe that if we respect each other as human beings, there will be no workplace bullying or ostracism."

During the sketch, Ji Yeo-eun joked, "I had to appear because I was bullied at work," mimicking Hanni's Vietnamese-Australian accent. Meanwhile, Kim Eui-sung parodied Jeong In-seop, the president of Hanwha Ocean's Geoje plant, who gained attention for taking selfies with Hani.

After the episode aired, viewers were not happy. Many expressed their frustration, saying things like, "It's upsetting to mock someone who had the courage to speak out," "Imitating a foreign accent is a form of racial discrimination," "Is this satire? It feels more like mockery," and "Making fun of someone else's misfortune is not comedy."

Han Kang, the first Korean to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, was also a target of parody. Kim Ah-young's imitation of Han Kang during her acceptance speech sparked comments like, "I feel embarrassed just watching," "This is serious," and "Turning a Nobel Prize winner into a punchline is unacceptable."

'SNL Korea' faced similar criticism in August when Jeon Jong Seo was accused of mocking ordinary people. In that episode, she portrayed a Japanese otaku girlfriend and was criticized for making fun of YouTubers' accents, outfits, and video content.

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Actress Lim Ji Yeon is finally opening up about the unexpected backlash she received after showing support for actor Jung Woo Sung during his controversial return to the public eye.

In an interview on January 23rd, following the end of her drama The Tale of Lady Ok, Lim Ji Yeon spoke candidly about the situation that caused a stir at the 45th Blue Dragon Film Awards in November last year.

At the event, Jung Woo Sung made his public return after facing controversy surrounding an “illegitimate child” with model Moon Ga Bi. While Jung Woo Sung took the stage to apologize, Lim Ji Yeon was seen clapping and cheering for him.

Reflecting on that moment, Lim Ji Yeon shared, "It was a brief moment, so it’s hard to say whether it was right or wrong." She added, "I didn’t expect the public’s reaction. On the other hand, I was cautious since The Tale of Lady Ok was airing at the time."

For those who missed it, Jung Woo Sung and Moon Ga Bi, who had been in a relationship since 2022, revealed last year that they were expecting a child.

The actor took full responsibility for the situation and issued an apology during the awards ceremony, saying, "I’m sorry for causing concern and disappointment to everyone who has shown me love and support. I will bear all the criticism, and I promise to take full responsibility as a father to my son".

However, while Jung Woo Sung addressed the controversy, it was Lim Ji Yeon’s show of support that sparked controversy.

She cheered enthusiastically for Jung Woo Sung, while actress Hye Ri, who was seated next to her, kept a neutral, expressionless face. This led to a wave of criticism from some netizens who questioned Lim Ji Yeon’s reaction.

It’s worth noting that Lim Ji Yeon’s agency, Artist Company, was co-founded by Jung Woo Sung and actor Lee Jung Jae, both of whom currently serve as directors.

Could this connection have influenced Lim Ji Yeon’s public display of support? She’s still processing the response, and fans are curious to know how she’ll handle the fallout moving forward.

Source: [1]