Controversy Surrounds MBC's 'DolsingNmosol' as Viewer Backlash Grows

MBC every1's new dating show 'DolsingNmosol' has sparked significant interest from its very first episode. However, as the show's popularity rises, so does the backlash against its participants, with the production team's lackluster response coming under scrutiny.

'DolsingNmosol' is a dating program where divorced women and men with no dating experience come together in a 'dating boarding school' to learn about love. The unique pairing of divorced women and inexperienced men drew industry attention even before its premiere, but concerns about its provocative setup were also prevalent.

As feared, the first episode aired scenes that viewers found troubling, quickly sparking controversy. Instances included a male participant telling a bleached-haired female participant she was "eliminated" to her face, male participants not helping a female participant grill meat alone, and comments like "because you have to have kids," all of which drew criticism. These scenes went viral on social media, leading to a flood of harsh comments directed at the non-celebrity participants.

Despite the controversy, the show's buzz seems to be increasing, possibly due to the noise marketing effect. 'DolsingNmosol' has outperformed 'Heart Signal 5,' a show known as the 'textbook of dating shows,' nearly doubling its viewership among women aged 20-49 in the metropolitan area. The provocative settings and scenes have effectively boosted ratings and interest.

The issue is that the non-celebrity participants are bearing the brunt of this attention. Post-broadcast, communities and social media have been flooded with derogatory comments targeting specific participants, with attacks based solely on controversial scenes. Public opinion is escalating beyond reasonable bounds.

Despite this, the production team remains largely passive. There is a noticeable lack of official statements or actions to protect the participants from the barrage of negative comments. Instead, the show has been criticized for fueling controversy by selectively airing potentially contentious scenes in previews. The sensational scenes are used to drive buzz, while the fallout is left for the participants to handle.

The participants are ordinary people, not public figures. Agreeing to be filmed does not equate to consenting to indiscriminate criticism and negative comments. There must be a clear distinction between creating provocative content for ratings and protecting the participants involved.

While provocative setups can drive a show's success, exposing non-celebrity participants to unchecked negative comments violates basic production ethics. If 'DolsingNmosol' is to be more than a fleeting sensation, it must consider participant protection as seriously as it does ratings.

Se-A Kim, TenAsia Reporter haesmik@tenasia.co.kr