Controversy Surrounds 'Heart Signal 5' as Kim Hyun-woo Returns Despite Past DUI Convictions

Kim Hyun-woo, a former participant of 'Heart Signal 2', is at the center of controversy as he takes on the role of designing the Signal House for the upcoming 'Heart Signal 5'. The production team's decision to repeatedly feature an individual with three DUI convictions has sparked public outrage.

On October 28, the 'Heart Signal' team released a video titled 'Is There a Secret in Heart Signal 5's Signal House? Kim Hyun-woo as the Interior Designer?!' on their YouTube channel 'Heart Signal Lab TV'. The video highlights Kim Hyun-woo's involvement as the interior designer for the Signal House, who was known as the 'wild card' in 'Heart Signal 2'.

Kim Hyun-woo expressed his thoughts on participating in the space design, stating, "I haven't met the residents in person, but I can imagine their movements in this space. It strangely feels endearing and touching." He is currently working as an interior design entrepreneur, leveraging the skills he developed while running the restaurant 'Messiah'.

The issue arises from Kim Hyun-woo's history of three DUI offenses. He was caught driving under the influence in November 2012, April 2013, and April 2018. In 2018, the court fined him 10 million won for his third offense.

Despite this, the 'Heart Signal' production team has repeatedly brought Kim Hyun-woo back for the sake of generating buzz. Not only in this video, but even after his DUI offenses were made public, he was featured in the 2021 spin-off program 'Friends'.

As Kim Hyun-woo's appearances on television continued, he faced increasing online harassment. In 2021, he took to Instagram to express his distress, saying, "I know I did wrong and will live with remorse for the rest of my life. Please stop. I'm human too. Do you want me to die or what? I'm not a celebrity or a public figure. I'm just a regular person."

The production team's reliance on Kim Hyun-woo is driven by guaranteed attention. The viewership numbers on the official 'Heart Signal 5' YouTube channel prove this point. While clips of other participants average around 100,000 views, Kim Hyun-woo's video surpassed 250,000 views within two days of release. To the production team, Kim Hyun-woo remains an indispensable 'buzz maker'.

The public criticizes the production team for prioritizing sensationalism over the protection of ordinary participants, and Kim Hyun-woo for his contradictory actions of expressing distress while continuing to appear on the show. It seems urgent for the production team to devise a new strategy that moves away from relying on the provocative 'Kim Hyun-woo card'.

By Juwon Park, TenAsia Reporter pjw00@tenasia.co.kr