[Focus] Is Satire That Hurts the Abbreviation 'SNL' Funny?

Political Satire Frightens 'SNL Korea' into Caution
Mocking the Vulnerable Sparks Laughter... 'Flood of Criticism'
OTT Comedy Market Must Also Take Responsibility

'Satire' (諷刺) refers to criticizing an unjust and unequal society, such as class society or wealth disparity, through humor. It mainly serves to alleviate the sense of deprivation felt by socially disadvantaged groups and minorities who cannot openly express their dissatisfaction.

The online video service (OTT) Coupang Play comedy show 'SNL Korea' aims to deliver laughter through bold satire. It was produced under a format license from the American NBC's 'Saturday Night Live,' which has been airing for 40 years, and was broadcast on the cable channel tvN from 2012 to 2017. It was revived on Coupang Play in 2021 after a five-year hiatus.

Mocking New Employees and Women Instead of Politicians

[Photo by Coupang Play]

'SNL Korea' features a different host (guest) each episode and adopts a concept of thoroughly self-deprecating comedy through skits and political satire. However, proper satire has gradually disappeared. Previously, sharp satire targeting not only the president but also famous politicians provided entertainment. The satire was so impactful that there were stories about being firmly marked by the Blue House, showing the high level of attention it received.

The change came last year when the show moved to Coupang Play. The sharp social criticism that conveyed laughter and empathy on behalf of the disadvantaged vanished, and the targets of satire were replaced by the disadvantaged themselves. New employees (interns) and women became the subjects of humor.

In the 'MZ Office' segment, new employees wear AirPods while working and say, "You have to wear these to improve work efficiency." At meal gatherings, they deliberately ignore the cutlery holder and pretend not to understand their boss’s words, refusing communication. This generalized the MZ generation as socially inept, which was criticized as problematic. Moreover, the long-discredited 'women are women's enemies' frame was applied, objectifying women as nuisances.

In the 'Weekend Update' segment, intern reporter Joo Hyun-young, who was previously involved in a controversy over misogyny, was brought back and mocked. Although she is no longer an intern, her concept of speaking with a lisp and lacking confidence remains similar. Nervously stammering, speaking with a lisp and a timid voice, she fails to perform her duties properly and appears shy. Even if she interviews politicians, it is unlikely that any proper questions will be asked.

Newly joined intern reporter Kim Ah-young takes it a step further. With a comically wide-eyed expression earning her the nickname 'Clear-eyed Madwoman,' she is utterly clumsy. She even refuses to communicate and seems to walk her own 'my way,' provoking laughter.

Inappropriate School Violence Parody

[Photo by Coupang Play]

The choice of inappropriate subject matter also drew criticism. 'SNL Korea' Season 3 recently parodied the popular Netflix series 'The Glory,' which depicts school violence, as 'The Calorie,' a move that was deemed reckless.

In 'The Calorie,' Joo Hyun-young played school violence perpetrator Park Yeon-jin, and Lee Su-ji played victim Moon Dong-eun. The scene where Park Yeon-jin uses a hair straightener to burn Moon Dong-eun’s body to check the heat was reduced to 'grilling dried filefish.' Watching the filefish being grilled with the straightener, Dong-eun painfully says, "I have to eat now, now is the time. Just one bite." Later, the victim feeds the perpetrator to fatten her up and successfully takes revenge, turning the situation into a parody.

This scene evokes the 'Hair Straightener School Violence Incident' that actually occurred in 2006 at a middle school in Cheongju. The parody was reckless as it turned an event that left an indelible trauma on the victim into a subject of laughter.

The direction of 'SNL Korea' Season 3 seems to be influenced by various popular contents on YouTube. There is criticism that it is a 'misstep' aimed at attracting viewers by generating 'memes' mainly on social networking services (SNS).

Bitter 'SNL' Ending with a Fizzle

'SNL Korea' Season 3 ended on the 28th of last month with the Jang Geun-seok episode. Is there a future for a program that has consistently maintained a concept of 'low-quality parody' throughout its 10 episodes? What meaning can laughter have when it comes from hurting and mocking the disadvantaged?

An industry insider said, "Our comedy programs need to remember past pains. They have lost their place in the market, pushed out by terrestrial broadcasters, and the lead has been taken by the online market. Even among comedians, voices of self-reflection are emerging." He added, "In an atmosphere where OTT is considered an alternative, the 'my way' approach of 'SNL Korea,' which has lost its touch and crossed the line, is painful."

The insider also said, "Recently, so-called popular YouTube content is produced with strict preparation processes, constantly reviewing whether there are any wrong approaches or potential issues. Content supplied through well-known platforms should listen even more carefully to the public’s voice." He emphasized, "I hope they take responsibility for producing high-quality, fresh content so that viewers can trust OTT content overall. In the long run, that is the way to achieve a win-win."