[Focus+] 'Knowing Bros' Controversy Again, Victim Told to Control Even Their Fear

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] "That's a very good posture" (Kim Heechul)... "Now your boyfriend has a valid reason" (Lee Sugeun)

Dancer Honey J (Jung Hani) shared a story on 'Knowing Bros' about being attacked by a stranger in the past, during which singer Kim Heechul and comedian Lee Sugeun's remarks sparked controversy.

Honey J appeared on the JTBC variety show 'Knowing Bros' - 'Street Woman Fighter' (hereafter 'SwuPa') special aired on the 20th, confessing that she was attacked by a stranger in an alleyway in the past.

On that day, Honey J recalled, "I used to live in a densely populated residential area. I took a taxi and got off near my house. As soon as I got off, I saw a man walking from the opposite side, and I felt something was off. Suddenly, the man changed direction and came toward me."

She continued, "I looked around, but no one was there. I felt like he was following me, but I entered an alleyway thinking that if I misunderstood, I should apologize. I didn't want to catch an innocent person."

Then panelist Kim Heechul raised his finger toward Honey J and emphatically said, "That's a very good posture."

Immediately after the broadcast, there were criticisms that Kim Heechul's attitude was inappropriate. Because Honey J, who felt threatened by a stranger, was seen as thinking first from the perspective of a potential perpetrator, and that potential victims should even control their 'fear.' There was a debate that in life-or-death situations, victims should not be forced to prioritize the feelings of the other party over their own safety.

Furthermore, the panelist's careless remarks continued. Honey J recalled that she was attacked by a stranger and escaped the scene after fierce resistance. At the moment when she was carrying her bag on her back and watching if the man passed by, the stranger's hand covered her mouth and waist from behind. Startled, Honey J used all her strength to get away, but the stranger even took her bag and ran. She desperately retrieved her bag but confessed that she broke down in tears from exhaustion.

The 'SwuPa' dancers listening to this could not hide their surprise and sympathy. Aiki and Lee Jung covered their mouths with both hands, showing great concern, but some panelists reacted differently.

After the incident, when Honey J said her boyfriend worried about her and escorted her home every day, Lee Sugeun said, "Now he has a valid reason." Making a joke empathizing with a man's feelings wanting to go to his girlfriend's house while she was telling a story about being attacked by a stranger was regrettable. Even though it was a variety show, responding with a light joke was criticized as careless.

Also, Honey J revealed that the police at the time watched CCTV footage showing her desperate situation confronting the perpetrator and laughed together, which caused surprise. The 'SwuPa' members were baffled by this, but some 'Knowing Bros' members laughed it off lightly.

There are criticisms that the production team was careless in making this a source of laughter. Even considering it was a variety show, Honey J's story about nearly becoming a victim of a serious crime should have been taken seriously. The production team's lack of consideration for the recent social atmosphere where violent crimes against women are increasing and simply packaging it as laughter was criticized as insufficient reflection. Therefore, the reaction that it is hard to understand the show as just entertainment is gaining support.

In particular, the fact that the production team aired Kim Heechul and Lee Sugeun's comments without editing and even emphasized them with subtitles was criticized as a lack of consideration.

On the other hand, some argue that excessive criticism is unfair. Some defended that Honey J merely mentioned a past event lightly as one of her episodes and that there was nothing problematic.

Meanwhile, 'Knowing Bros' recently moved its time slot twice due to low ratings. After changing the time slot to 7:40 PM on September 4, it was delayed by one hour to 8:40 PM on the 20th, just two months later.