Many have risen and fallen by their words. When I see broadcaster Jang Sung-kyu these days, this saying comes to mind. His words are filled with unpleasant, crossing-the-line, and dangerous remarks.
On the 16th, Jang Sung-kyu caused another incident on the first broadcast of KBS2's new variety show 'Car Wash JANG'. The show is a revamped street singing talk show '2 Jang 1 Jeol', where Jang Sung-kyu and Jang Min-ho transform into car wash owners, washing the cars of celebrities while discussing their vehicles and recent updates. On this day, the two welcomed retired baseball star Choo Shin-soo, a former major leaguer, as their first guest at a car wash located in Paju, Gyeonggi Province.
The speculation about a reserved customer named 'Go-chu' (referring to the cheer 'GO~CHOO~' from Choo Shin-soo's Texas Rangers days) started off precariously.
When Jang Sung-kyu asked, "What kind of go-chu could it be, a small one?" Jang Min-ho replied, "It could be someone with a big go-chu field, or it reminds me of a go-chu lady." Not stopping there, Jang Sung-kyu raised the stakes by saying, "KBS might want to follow the current trend and talk about real go-chu with a YouTube vibe. It could be the symbol of go-chu, the king of go-chu," which made Jang Min-ho uncomfortable, saying, "What are you doing?"
The identity of 'Go-chu' was Choo Shin-soo. After discussing the car he arrived in, when the topic of drunk driving came up, Choo Shin-soo reflected on it once again. The problem arose next.
When Jang Sung-kyu asked about the athlete's routine, Choo Shin-soo said, "There are a lot. I go to the baseball field early to do all those routines. I put on my clothes and shoes starting from the left." Jang Sung-kyu then jokingly asked, "Are you leftist?" Jang Min-ho apologized on his behalf, and Choo Shin-soo looked flustered.
Jang Sung-kyu's remarks during a politically tense situation that led to martial law and impeachment made viewers uncomfortable. Even if the recording took place before the December 3 martial law situation, it was careless. It is free to openly express one's political views, and one should not criticize those views. However, one must be cautious when asking about another's political stance. In a talk show, it is essential to draw out the other person's story comfortably, but there are questions that must be approached carefully depending on the era and society. The broadcast faced criticism for the production team's insensitivity in editing, but above all, Jang Sung-kyu's insensitivity and discomfort in his remarks stood out.
Former announcer Jang Sung-kyu rose to fame with his sense of entertainment. His talk is close to B-grade and fits well in the YouTube era. However, those who possess a delightful and appropriately boundary-respecting sense of humor tend to last longer. Long-lasting broadcasters are different in that regard.
Jang Sung-kyu, who became a building owner through his talk, is now in a continuous state of anxiety. Earlier this month, on SBS's variety show 'My Ugly Duckling', he was invited to badminton star Lee Yong-dae's house and brought up his wife's embarrassing moments, such as a bathroom mishap in front of her, which made many viewers frown.
Then, at the end of last month, on the YouTube channel 'Workman', when he heard that the modeling fee for a dog was 10 million won a day, Jang Sung-kyu said to the staff, "Really? You guys are worth less than a dog," which led to a controversy over his inappropriate remarks.
Was it just a joke? Why get so worked up? There are no objective measures that separate a joke from a serious comment. If the listener finds it amusing, it's a joke; if they find it unpleasant, one should be mindful and tone it down. While it might be acceptable in private, what is said on a broadcast, especially on public television accessible to all ages, should be carefully considered. Many comedians, shopping hosts, and broadcasters who rose to fame through their words have disappeared due to careless remarks. The saying that those who rise by their words fall by their words is not without reason.
