TV
Controversy Erupts Over Inappropriate Remarks on MBC's 'Save Me! Holmes'


Pang Hyun-sook has sparked controversy with her explicit remarks on MBC's 'Save Me! Holmes' (hereafter 'Holmes'). Her inappropriate comments directed at Kim Sook have particularly caused discomfort. The fact that these scenes were aired without editing has also led to criticism of the production team.
On the episode aired on the 3rd, guest Pang Hyun-sook, alongside her husband Choi Yang-rak, led the conversation by mentioning their daily kisses. However, her unfiltered comments quickly escalated in explicitness, leading to controversy.


The conversation continued with discussions about 'couples sharing a room or having separate rooms.' When Yang Se-hyung asked, "Which do you recommend in married life, sharing a room or separate rooms?", Pang Hyun-sook answered "separate rooms," explaining, "If you use your body too much, it wears out. Separate rooms prevent that." She added explicit comments about "breasts" and "men and women," which were partially censored with beeps and mosaics during the broadcast.
The problematic remarks didn't stop there. Pang Hyun-sook said, "If you use separate rooms, you don't use your bodies," and told the unmarried Kim Sook, "You must be clean because you don't use it." Kim Sook, hearing this, was visibly uncomfortable, and Yang Se-hyung awkwardly laughed to diffuse the situation. Although it was a recorded scene, the production team aired it without editing.

The issue is that this scene was broadcast on a terrestrial variety show during a family-friendly evening time slot. Some viewers criticized MBC, saying, "It was embarrassing to watch with family," "Why wasn't it edited?", and "Pang Hyun-sook should read the times, but the production team is also responsible." Others questioned, "Where is the censorship that makes public broadcasting what it is?"

This controversy extends beyond Pang Hyun-sook's individual remarks to raise questions about the editing standards and broadcasting ethics of terrestrial variety shows. As terrestrial broadcasting is still a medium watched by many families, there is a growing call for both the level of remarks by participants and the editing standards of the production team to be reviewed in line with the times.
Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr