'Marriage Hell', which received criticism for airing an unfiltered image of a father molesting his stepdaughter, will resume broadcasting after two weeks of reorganization. Can 'Marriage Hell', which is in crisis as the child molestation controversy has led to numerous civil complaints and police reports and even calls for its abolition, be able to change the minds of viewers?
According to MBC's schedule, 'Oh Eun-young Report - Marriage Hell' will be broadcast today (9th) at 10:30 pm. This is three weeks after the broadcast on the 19th of last month.
'Marriage Hell' sparked a controversy over child molestation on December 19th when, in the 'Go-Stop Couple' episode, an image of a child being molested was shown while showing the story of the cast. After the broadcast, viewers' bulletin boards were flooded with messages demanding abolition, and some viewers even filed complaints with the Korea Communications Standards Commission.
In response, the ‘Marriage Hell’ side said, “We were so focused on analyzing the couple’s problems that we failed to carefully look into the airing of scenes that viewers might be concerned about. After hearing criticism about the program after it aired, I decided there was no room for excuses. “I once again offer my deepest apologies for failing to think from the child’s perspective and causing concern to many people,” he said, bowing his head, but decided to take two weeks to reorganize due to public criticism that did not subside.
However, the public's reaction to 'marriage hell' is still cold. Beyond the demand for the abolition of the program, it has spread into a controversy over Dr. Oh Eun-young's qualifications. If he had seen the incident as a specialist, he should have reported it rather than broadcast it. In response, Oh Eun-young said, "My opinion was not sufficiently reflected, so there were parts that were conveyed differently than I intended. In the process of editing the recording, which was over 5 hours long, to fit 80 minutes, a lot of this content was inevitably not included, so it felt like I was being accused of child molestation." He explained, “I feel extremely devastated that I am seen as a person who neglects others.”
Attention is being paid to whether 'Marriage Hell', which returns after a two-week reorganization following the controversy, will be able to change the minds of viewers who left, or whether it will take the step of being abolished.
Taeyuna, Ten Asia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr