He plays a teenage character in the drama.
SNL Korea recently received public criticism for its parody of Jeongnyeon’s character Kim Tae Rithe latest K-Drama, Jeongnyeon: The star is born.
The parody sexualized Jeongnyeon’s character in various ways in the episode that aired on Saturday, October 26. Comic Ahn Young Miwho was imitating Jeongnyeon, introduced himself as “Jeot-nyeon,” a term that combines two swear words in the Korean language. While the word ““jet” is used to mean breasts, “Yes” is a very offensive term used to call a woman.
Additionally, the episode also sexualized the pansori (Korean folk song) sung by Jeongnyeon in the drama. While the original lyrics say, “Come here, let’s play while we’re on our backs,” Ahn sang the parody version that said, “Come here, let’s do it without our clothes on.”
This episode sparked intense backlash as audiences felt this portrayal crossed the line as Jeongnyeon is a teenage character. Furthermore, many felt that the parody made fun of the actors who dedicated their efforts to mastering the very difficult craft of Pansori and, by extension, insulted traditional Korean culture.
Despite widespread criticism, the show has made no statement regarding its stance on the issue, as well as remaining silent on mounting criticism for another episode in which they mocked New Jeans‘ Years.
Meanwhile, the story of Jeongnyeon: The star is born is based on a very popular korean webtoon called Jeongnyeon. You can read more about the story to know why it holds such a special place in the hearts of the Korean public.
All About ‘Jeong Nyeon’: The Feminist Webtoon Ready for a K-Drama Adaptation
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