'This Person' Who Appears Whenever You Turn on the TV... The O Eun-young Style Counseling Variety Show Craze

'O Eun-young Style Counseling Entertainment' Craze
From the 'Geumjjok-i' Series to 'Gyeolhon Jiok'
"General Public Observation Entertainment Risks Offset by Expertise"

'Counseling Entertainment' led by psychiatrist Oh Eun-young is gaining popularity. Photo by Channel A, screenshot from the broadcast of 'Oh Eun-young's Geumjjok Counseling Center'.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] These days, it is no exaggeration to say that counseling entertainment shows are synonymous with the name 'Oh Eun-young.' Dr. Oh Eun-young, familiar to the public through SBS's 'Our Child Has Changed,' is a psychiatrist who has recently appeared on various programs, leading the craze for 'counseling entertainment.'

Since May 2020, Dr. Oh has been meeting children and their parents on Channel A's 'These Days Parenting - My Precious Child.' In this program, both the children and the parents are all 'Geumjjok-i' (precious ones). Dr. Oh does not scold children who refuse to go to school and throw tantrums but understands and embraces their immaturity. To parents who have never experienced being loved by their own parents in childhood and thus have an immature way of loving their children, she reassures them by saying, "It's okay." This is why Oh Eun-young's style of parenting entertainment is popular even among the childless 20s and 30s generations.

Once called the 'National Parenting Mentor,' Dr. Oh now soothes the hearts of all age groups beyond just children. On Channel A's 'Oh Eun-young's Geumjjok Counseling Center,' she looks into the inner world of 'adult Geumjjok-i' who have only grown physically, and on MBC's 'Oh Eun-young Report - Marriage Hell,' she seeks clues to resolving conflicts between couples. In the upcoming first broadcast on the 12th, KBS 2TV's 'Okay? Okay!' will conduct counseling by visiting story submitters nationwide, offering advice and comfort. It is literally a 'mobile counseling show.'

Regarding her frequent recent appearances on broadcasts, Dr. Oh said, "I have always valued and worked with those who come to hospitals and research institutes, but in this time when everyone is in crisis, I felt I should contribute a drop of my strength." At the production presentation of 'Okay? Okay!' on the 11th, she revealed, "During the COVID-19 crisis era, I talked a lot about children, parents, adults, and couples on broadcasts, and experienced panelists sincerely listening, but there was a bit of regret. For those who cannot come due to time, economic, and various reasons, I decided to 'go directly' to them."

Some interpret the success of 'Oh Eun-young-style entertainment' as a 'counseling entertainment craze.' Not only has the psychological barrier to psychiatric counseling lowered, but modern people exhausted by busy lives are naturally seeking 'kind entertainment' and 'healing entertainment.' Besides Dr. Oh, there are several psychiatrists active in various entertainment shows, such as psychiatrist Yang Jae-jin appearing on Channel A's 'Troublesome Couple,' and psychiatrist Yang Jae-woong, who was selected as MC of MBC Every1's 'War of Roses.'

However, there are criticisms that numerous programs are being created indiscriminately by riding on the popularity and abilities of experts like Dr. Oh. Animal trainer Kang Hyung-wook has appeared on EBS's 'There Are No Bad Dogs in the World' and KBS 2TV's 'Dogs Are Great,' providing solutions, while profilers Kwon Il-yong and Pyo Chang-won are regulars on crime entertainment programs. Additionally, cooking researcher Baek Jong-won gained great popularity through MBC's 'My Little Television' and has led numerous cooking programs such as tvN's 'Home-cooked Baek Teacher' and 'Baekpacker,' SBS's 'Baek Jong-won's Top 3 Chefs,' and 'Baek Jong-won's Alley Restaurant.' Recently, as many counseling entertainment programs bearing Dr. Oh's name have increased, she has earned the nickname 'the Baek Jong-won of counseling.'

Child psychiatrist Oh Eun-young appears not only in parenting solution programs but also in various counseling entertainment programs. Photo by MBC, screenshot from the broadcast of "Oh Eun-young Report - Marriage Hell."

However, many also positively evaluate entertainment shows led by experts. Their appearances on TV have improved many of society's wrong customs and prejudices. Dr. Oh has provided a kind of bible on how to respect and raise children, and trainer Kang is praised for raising awareness of the preciousness of life while advancing pet culture. Various criminal psychology experts not only explain sensational crimes but also deliver preventive measures and social messages to prevent the repetition of similar tragedies.

Cultural critic Jung Deok-hyun said, "Counseling entertainment existed before, but recently, with many programs led by Dr. Oh, it has become mainstream. Dr. Oh can be seen as the center of the (counseling entertainment) boom."

Critic Jung analyzed that the risks of observational entertainment targeting ordinary people are offset by the counseling skills, knowledge, and expertise of professionals. He explained, "There are many reality and observational entertainment shows that look into conflicts in the private lives of others, such as stories about couples or families. In such programs, it is important 'from whose perspective the subject is observed' and 'how the observations are interpreted and what information is provided.'"

He also sees that experts frequently appearing on TV are becoming 'broadcasters' based on their excellent broadcasting abilities. Critic Jung added, "Dr. Oh, researcher Baek, and trainer Kang all have expertise, but above all, they are very good at broadcasting. Because they possess various abilities, they continue to be sought after in the broadcasting industry."