≪The Five Examples of Jeong Tae-geon≫
Today, notable entertainment
‘Solo Hell’ who wrote a new record, is in a bad mood
‘Solo Hell’ Cast / Photo = Captured from Netflix
≪The Five Examples of Jeong Tae-geon≫
‘The era of content overflow’. For readers who are worried about what to watch, Jeong Tae-gun, a reporter for Ten Asia, will be your ‘entertainment guide’. It adds fun to watching the program by digging into not only hot issues in the entertainment industry, but also points to watch, main characters, and behind-the-scenes stories.
Netflix’s ‘Solo Hell’ ranked 10th in the world for TV shows for the first time in domestic entertainment, but noise is leaking inside and outside the program. Various controversies from the performers wearing fakes to skin color discrimination spread all over the world, and even though they achieved good results, they got the disgrace of ‘a national disgrace’.
‘Solo Hell’, which was first released on the 18th of last month, is an honest and hot love reality show between nine men and women that takes place on the isolated island ‘Hell Road’ where you can only go out as a couple. Although it draws a couple of non-celebrity matching, it drew attention by making up the cast with splendid jobs such as YouTubers, health trainers, clothing brand representatives, and dancers.
As much as they drew a stimulating and high-level date by bringing together men and women with outstanding looks that are second to those of celebrities, they did not hesitate to expose themselves too daringly, and the hot reaction of viewers appeared immediately.
While ‘Solo Hell’ was releasing a total of 8 episodes, it topped the streaming TV show in Korea, Singapore, and Vietnam. It ranked 2nd in Hong Kong, 3rd in Taiwan and Malaysia, 4th in Indonesia and Morocco, and 7th in Canada.
However, the glory of ‘Solo Hell’, which presented new possibilities for Korean entertainment contents, did not last long. Suspicions surrounding the performers, who received explosive attention, poured out.
Choi Si-hoon, a clothing businessman from talent, was troubled by rumors that he was a waitress at an entertainment establishment. In response, Sihoon Choi on his Weibo immediately explained, “I am not a host bar player (duck).”
The controversy over the performers did not end there. YouTuber Freesia (real name Song Ji-ah), who is considered the biggest beneficiary of ‘Solo Hell’, has been at the center of criticism over the controversy over wearing fakes. Recently, online communities have been surrounded by suspicions that the clothes and accessories that Song Ji-ah wore were fakes. Since his main job was a YouTuber introducing fashion and beauty products, the situation grew out of control. Even some of the outfits that Song Ji-ah wore while appearing in ‘Solo Hell’ were also suspected of being fakes.
In response, Song Jia posted a handwritten letter on her Instagram saying, “The controversy over fake products you pointed out is partly true. I’m really sorry.” He said, “I once again apologize for all the circumstances that occurred due to the designers’ infringement of clothing and ignorance of copyright. I will be aware of it and reflect on it.”
Nevertheless, he was criticized for wearing fakes while he was about to launch his own brand, and for making profits by cheating fakes with genuine ones through his YouTube channel.
The controversy over Song Ji-ah’s fake products was also focused on overseas media. Foreign media such as the British media Daily Mail reported, “Jia Song, who appeared in ‘Solo Hell’, was caught wearing counterfeit fashion brands and apologized.”
‘Solo Hell’ Cast / Photo = Captured from Netflix
In addition, overseas viewers took issue with some of the remarks of the cast of ‘Solo Hell’. At the beginning of the broadcast, it was pointed out that the scene where male performers talked about the skin color of female performers was “uncomfortable to see”. Some of the cast members said, “It’s too white” and “I like people with white skin tones” in the process of describing their first impressions.
As various controversies erupted, the global popularity of the program produced shame rather than pride in domestic content. Even though ‘Solo Hell’ achieved the first performance in the domestic entertainment industry, it was reduced to being a badass. The worldwide box office success of ‘Solo Hell’ has turned into poison. All kinds of controversies spread and reproduced overseas in real time.
As a result of this situation, Netflix, the No. 1 player in global and domestic OTT market share, was also on the cutting board. On the 19th, Netflix’s VP (Vice President) Kang Dong-han of Korean content gave an ambiguous explanation to the controversy over ‘Solo Hell’ at a meeting to announce Netflix’s 2022 Korean content lineup.
On this day, he said, “It hasn’t been a long time since Netflix has been streaming all over the world. Every day I learn something new. I take it seriously. We are collaborating with third-party partners for things like translation and dubbing. As for the parts, as each case piles up, it becomes an opportunity to develop, and I continue to learn with a humble attitude.”
He promised only future changes, without a sincere apology for the program that had already caused problems several times. Rather than appease disappointing viewers, it was just a clear position that “I will repay you with better content.” The question arises as to whether the controversy that arose on the native OTT platform could have been passed on like this.
Netflix’s explanation as the leading company in the world’s streaming platform was absurd and only disappointing. It is difficult to understand why Netflix, which recorded $7.71 billion in sales in the fourth quarter of last year, is “still learning”.
This is the reason why there is a lot of talk about whether Netflix, which was envied as a global OTT company, had a bubble. Its sluggish performance, such as allowing latecomers to overtake the market, is not unrelated to this. In the OTT market, which has become fierce due to the growth of competitors, Netflix also needs to be humble enough to bow its head.
By Jeong Tae-gun, staff reporter for Ten Asia biggun@tenasia.co.kr
