It Has Reached Large Corporations... The Controversy Over the 'Jipge Sonmoyang' Shaking South Korea's Industry

Controversy Arises Over 'Index Finger' Gesture Found on Company Bulletin Board and Messenger
Recent Controversy Started in Nexon 'MapleStory'
POSCO YouTube Video Also Made Private Due to Controversy

The 'index finger controversy' that started in the gaming industry has now spread to Samsung Electronics. The women's supremacy community 'Megalia' used the index finger gesture to demean the male genitalia, and the controversy arose as several companies began using similar images. Before long, the index finger became a symbol synonymous with male hatred imagery.

Controversial twig shaped like an index finger (left), index finger confirmed in Posco TV video (right). [Photo source=Blind, Posco TV YouTube]

A Samsung Electronics official stated on the 30th, "There is an image when logging into the company bulletin board (NowTalk), and images containing the index finger gesture have been found multiple times, causing controversy," adding, "There is a flood of posts demanding explanations." A representative example is the wrestling image. It was an image depicting a wrestling pose, but the athlete happened to be showing the index finger. Many reacted that it was incomprehensible because the finger gesture is unlikely to appear during wrestling.

Controversial tree branch shaped like an index finger (left) and an image of a wrestler making an index finger gesture
[Photo by Blind]

That was not all. Before using the wrestling image, a tree image was used. The branch shape resembled an index finger. In the company messenger Knox, an emoticon showing a phone call was used, depicting a hand holding a phone with the index finger. The index finger was also found in various offline locations. On a restroom poster explaining emergency evacuation procedures, the finger pressing the emergency light button was an index finger. Considering that people generally press buttons with their index finger, this was against common sense.

Currently, all index finger images involved in the controversy, both online and offline, have been deleted or modified. Although there is a flood of posts from employees demanding explanations about the 'index finger controversy,' the company has yet to provide any significant clarification. Samsung Electronics' internal bulletin boards and messenger materials are, in principle, not allowed to be leaked externally. Regarding this, Samsung Electronics stated, "The controversial images were taken from an external site (Getty Images) and used; they were not created directly," adding, "We are embarrassed that the controversy arose despite no intention."

The index finger confirmed in the POSCO TV video. The video has been set to private. [Image source=POSCO TV YouTube]

The index finger controversy began in earnest on the 25th when allegations arose that the Nexon game 'MapleStory' character promotional animation contained male-hating expressions. Reports flooded in that the characters' hand gestures in some parts of the video resembled the index finger shape, and Director Kim Chang-seop issued a direct apology broadcast. Director Kim said, "We (MapleStory) firmly oppose the culture of blindly hating others and showing it without any shame, as well as those who secretly take pleasure in revealing such things." The problematic video was also deleted.

The index finger controversy is spreading not only in the gaming industry but throughout the industrial sector. On the 28th, an index finger gesture was confirmed in a video titled '2023 POSCO Second Half New Employee Recruitment,' which was posted three months ago on POSCO's official YouTube channel, sparking controversy. POSCO made the video private without further comment.