"Misogyny" vs "Creative Freedom"
Naver Webtoon Troubled by 'PongPongNam' Comment War
Naver Webtoon has been caught up in an unexpected 'gender conflict controversy.' This arose after it was revealed that a webtoon containing hateful expressions and content promoting gender conflict passed the first round of screening in its own webtoon contest. Some have raised issues with the 'filtering system,' arguing that 'Naver Webtoon did not fulfill its role as a platform.'
Amid the ongoing '2024 Naver Webtoon Greatest Contest' aimed at discovering new writers and new works, a webtoon titled 'Isekai Pongpongnam' has become controversial. The webtoon depicts a protagonist who, after witnessing his wife's infidelity and losing both property and custody rights to her, realizes he was a 'Pongpongnam' and falls into despair, only to accidentally travel to another world (a different dimension).
The term 'Pongpongnam' is a hateful expression likening a man married to a woman who has had many past partners to 'dishwashing detergent.' It carries a mocking tone implying a 'naive man' who was the 'last to wash' a 'promiscuous woman.' The fact that this work passed Naver Webtoon's editorial department's first screening and is awaiting the second round sparked controversy online. Various online communities were flooded with posts stating that 'Naver allowed a work that incites gender conflict and hatred to pass without filtering.'
Gender Conflict 'Comment War' Erupts
The controversy escalated into a comment war. Currently, the comment section for 'Isekai Pongpongnam' is filled with clashing opinions, with some calling it a "misogynistic work" and others defending it as "freedom of expression." Some male readers expressed heated reactions such as "Creation is freedom," "This is a webtoon men must see," "It's a reflection of reality, so what's uncomfortable about it?" and "If Naver doesn't approve this webtoon, they'll be seen as radical feminists." On the other hand, some female readers left comments like "How did such hateful expressions appear so blatantly on Naver Webtoon?" "If this work passes, I will unsubscribe from Naver," and "The term 'dishwashing' is a clear misogynistic expression originating from gang rape."
As the controversy spread, the author of 'Isekai Pongpongnam' posted in the comment section, "Currently, the false claim that the origins of 'Pongpongnam' and the 'dishwashing theory' stem from gang rape is spreading indiscriminately beyond reason, so I am leaving this statement," and "The term was used as a stock market term in the early 2000s and does not condone gang rape or misogynistic acts. The webtoon was created with consultation from a divorce specialist lawyer." Despite this explanation, 'Isekai Pongpongnam' has been bombarded with low ratings. While other Best Challenge webtoons receive scores in the 9-point range, 'Isekai Pongpongnam' is rated around 4 to 5 points.
Naver Webtoon Has No Grounds to Intervene in the Work
Meanwhile, Naver Webtoon finds itself in a difficult position amid the conflict surrounding 'Isekai Pongpongnam.' Responsibility has been questioned for failing to preemptively filter out themes containing hateful expressions on such a major platform. If the work wins in the second round, it will likely lead to official serialization, which could intensify the controversy.
However, it is also difficult for Naver Webtoon to intervene in the work. 'Isekai Pongpongnam' is merely a submission to the contest and is not yet a Naver Webtoon property. Furthermore, the work does not violate any guidelines, so there is no basis for sanctions. According to the contest notice, submissions are prohibited only if they are △ confirmed to infringe on others' intellectual property rights such as plagiarism/tracing/unauthorized use △ works formally published or serialized as paper or electronic books and sold domestically or internationally △ works already contracted with other companies domestically or internationally for paper books, electronic books, video rights, management, etc. △ works that have already won awards on other domestic or international platforms or contests △ works submitted using another person's ID or personal information.
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