《Kim Ji-won’s KakaoTalk》
The same couple appears on several couple solution entertainment shows
Different entertainment shows, same conflict ‘Doubt about sincerity’
Viewers’ growing fatigue
The same couple appears on several couple solution entertainment shows
Different entertainment shows, same conflict ‘Doubt about sincerity’
Viewers’ growing fatigue
《Kim Ji-won’s KakaoTalk》
‘Today’s story that is open and harsh’. Reporter Kim Ji-won of Ten Asia harshly criticizes entertainment and broadcasting industry issues from a difficult perspective.
We sought to resolve the conflict, but only the conflict stood out and ended. This is a story about solution entertainment shows that deal with marital problems. Moreover, since the contestants move from broadcasting station to broadcaster and repeatedly show the same concerns, their sincerity is questionable.
SBS Plus' marital relationship inspection reality show 'How's Your Marriage?' (hereinafter referred to as 'Danggyeol-an') presented the stories of couples in the second season. Among them, the 'Yellow Couple' has already appeared as the 'Dream Couple' on MBC's 'Oh Eun-young Report - Marriage Hell'. A couple raising two daughters. The wife confessed that she was unable to escape the trauma after being assaulted by her drunken husband six months into her pregnancy with her first child. After the solution, the husband said, "There was a dramatic change. Before, my wife had a hard time raising children and doing housework, but she is changing naturally. I am quite satisfied."
However, the Wildfire Couple appeared in ‘Party Resolution’ as the Yellow Couple. The yellow couple exchanged sharp criticism and bloody conversations with each other. His wife also shocked him by saying, “Let’s end this revenge drama.” This broadcast even revealed a new conflict. The wife confessed that she had been sexually assaulted at a massage shop she went to with her husband. The wife recalled, "The male masseuse touched my breasts while changing positions during the massage. It turned out that he was a repeat offender." Then, the husband got angry and said, "Didn't you wear clothes that revealed your cleavage when you were hanging out at the club? Are you saying it's a joke just because I touched that?"
You can often see conflicting couples moving between various entertainment shows like this. The same goes for Kim Kyung-jin and Jeon Su-min, who have been married for three years. The two appeared on Channel A's 'Eye Contact' ahead of their wedding in June 2020. In this broadcast, Jeon Soo-min poured out her complaints to Kim Kyung-jin. Due to frequent drinking, his weight has increased by 22kg and he is not able to properly manage his home. Not only that, he also said, “I don’t think I would be happy if I lived with you.”
Although the two seemed to show signs of reconciliation, they appeared on Channel A's 'Couple in Trouble' 8 months after their marriage. This time, the problem was Kim Kyung-jin's financial transactions and excessive spending without his wife Jeon Su-min's knowledge. The couple recently revealed their conflict again on 'Marriage Hell'. This time, Jeon Soo-min expressed his frustration with Kim Kyung-jin, who had no sense of economics. In addition, different attitudes toward the second generation plan were also a cause of conflict.
Jo Hye-ryun's younger brother Jo Ji-hwan and his wife Park Hye-min also appeared in several entertainment programs resolving marital conflict. In 'Difficult Couple', Park Hye-min said, "My husband has too much energy," and "He calls me when it's time for me to get off work, and it doesn't matter where I am, so I tried it at my brother's (Cho Hye-ryeon) house, the dorm in front of the hospital, and the parking lot." They expressed their difficulties due to the demands of marital relations. These couples also revealed issues of livelihood and conflict between their parents and their parents in 'Marriage Hell'.
Couples who have gone through the process of confession-counseling-resolution of a conflict in one entertainment show appear again on another entertainment show, revealing previously mentioned problems and exposing new conflicts. This is why there is even a saying, ‘Couples moving to entertainment shows.’ There is also criticism that the production team is in a hurry to increase the topic by recruiting performers who are already familiar with viewers.
The plot, which focuses on highlighting conflict rather than resolving it for the sake of entertainment, also raises doubts about its sincerity. It is confusing whether what they want is a smooth continuation of married life through problem solving, or whether they are only using the marital conflict itself as a subject matter by squeezing out the conflict. It can be sensed that viewers who feel tired are gradually leaving.
Kim Ji-won, Ten Asia reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr