Reconstructed from the '0 Recruitment' Controversy Video a Month Ago
Misunderstanding the Meaning of 0 Leads to Comment Disputes... 'Munhaeryeok' Controversy Also Arises
The popular YouTube channel "Neodeolteu," which sparked controversy over the so-called "0 recruitment" issue, received praise from fans after posting a video reenacting the situation. Previously, Neodeolteu used the phrase "0 recruitment" in a notice for new actor recruitment, but some netizens who did not understand this expressed dissatisfaction, saying, "Are you kidding me?" which caused a commotion.
Controversial video titled 'Recruiting 0 People' posted by Neodeolteu. [Image source=Captured from Neodeolteu]
On the 16th, Neodeolteu uploaded a video titled "Why recruit if you're picking 0?" The video reenacts the words and actions of various netizens during the earlier "0 recruitment" controversy in the form of a skit.
Earlier, on the 12th of last month, Neodeolteu posted an actor recruitment notice on their channel community board. The notice stated that they were recruiting "0 actors." Typically, in job postings, recruiting 0 means recruiting between 1 and 9 people, but some YouTubers who took the "0" literally wrote protest comments such as "Are you trolling now?" and "Is it okay for a YouTuber with 1.8 million subscribers to joke around?" which sparked controversy.
Controversial video titled 'Recruiting 0 People' posted by Neodeolteu. [Image source=Captured from Neodeolteu]
The controversy quickly escalated into a dispute among netizens over "literacy." While some politely explained the meaning of "0 recruitment," others harshly criticized, saying, "Young people these days have nothing in their heads, so their literacy has collapsed." There were also claims that "Neodeolteu is at fault for using terminology that could be misunderstood in the first place."
The video transforms these various opinions into a skit featuring actors with different personalities. The "0 recruitment" controversy turns into a literacy debate, which then converges into calls for an official statement from Neodeolteu. Eventually, the creators of Neodeolteu issue an explanation in the form of a press conference.
However, when they say in the statement, "We offer our sincere apologies," some misunderstand the meaning of "sincere (甚深, deeply heartfelt and earnest)," causing another dispute, and the video ends there.
Netizens who watched the video praised Neodeolteu's wit. Comments included, "They reenacted the controversy with humor," "They even reflected the fact that those who caused the controversy deleted their comments and ran away," and "I empathized with the actor frustrated by those who didn't understand the meaning of zero. It felt like my chest was burning with anger during the controversy."
While it is advisable to avoid reacting angrily without understanding the proper meaning of terms, some opinions suggested that it is unfair to simply criticize the younger generation for having "low literacy" just because they are unfamiliar with certain words.
In fact, similar controversies have consistently occurred in various online communities and social networking services (SNS) over time. Examples that often cause misunderstandings include "sincere condolences," "0," and "sahul (a pure Korean word for three days)." One netizen pointed out, "Younger users probably have never encountered or had the opportunity to learn such words," adding, "Many words are effectively becoming archaic."
Meanwhile, Neodeolteu is a YouTube channel that mainly produces B-grade sensibility skits based on everyday life. As of the 17th, it is a popular YouTuber with about 1.8 million subscribers. The cumulative views of their videos reach 300 million, and last year, one of their videos ranked 6th in YouTube's top 10 popular videos.
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