KBS Hwang Jung-min's music show, which caused controversy by presenting a quiz related to the 'Shrimp Tempura Power Abuse Death' incident. Photo by KBS website capture
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] A man in his 50s who was suffering from a customer demanding a refund for a single shrimp tempura collapsed from a cerebral hemorrhage and died. Meanwhile, a KBS radio program sparked controversy by turning this incident into a quiz story.
On the 22nd broadcast of KBS Radio's 'Hwang Jungmin's Music Show,' announcer Hwang Jungmin said, "A fight that started over a refund dispute for one of these items has driven a snack bar owner to death, causing public outrage," and asked, "Which of the following is this?" The options he presented were boiled egg, shrimp tempura, and sundae heart (Korean blood sausage heart).
After revealing the correct answer, announcer Hwang said, "I hesitated a lot about whether this was an issue that could be made into a quiz," and added, "I hoped that through this quiz, many people would learn about this matter and take an interest in it."
On the same day, a petition was posted on the KBS Viewer Rights Center website expressing discomfort with the quiz question that appeared on the KBS radio program 'Hwang Jungmin's Music Show.'
The author said, "It was a quiz where listeners who answered a multiple-choice question correctly could win a cosmetic gift set," and added, "I was very shocked when I first heard this quiz."
He raised the issue, saying, "Using this sad and painful news as quiz material under the pretext of raising public awareness? I really don't know if many people answering this question just to win a prize aligns with the intention of raising public interest."
He continued, "You said you hesitated about making the question, but if you thought about it so carefully, you shouldn't have made the question," and added, "I am leaving this message because I think it is like driving a nail into the coffin of the bereaved family."
He also said, "I think more caution is needed in a program full of lively music and laughter," and added, "Wouldn't it have been more impactful to listeners to convey this news while expressing condolences to the bereaved family?"
As the controversy grew, KBS issued an official statement on the 23rd, saying, "Although it started with good intentions, if anyone felt uncomfortable because of it, we must of course apologize," and "We are sorry for not being more careful."
On the same day, announcer Hwang Jungmin apologized during the opening of 'Hwang Jungmin's Music Show,' which aired from 2 p.m., saying, "I deeply apologize regarding the quiz during yesterday's broadcast. My intention was for more people to take an interest and think together, but I failed to be careful in many ways," and added, "I sincerely accept the criticism that I was not cautious enough and will pay more careful attention in the future."
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