Regulators clear Running Man kissing game of sexual harassment claims

The Broadcasting Review Subcommittee resolved "no problem" for a November 23 episode of Running Man, with four out of five members deciding against sanctions for a controversial kissing game involving actress Ahn Eun-jin. While the majority cited voluntary participation, one member suggested administrative guidance due to the use of hesitant reactions for comedy.

A controversy surrounding a kissing game featuring actress Ahn Eun-jin on the SBS variety program 'Running Man' has been concluded as "no problem" by broadcasting regulators. Although complaints were filed claiming that scenes requiring physical contact from female participants were inappropriate, the majority of the review committee determined that the participants participated voluntarily and that the contact could not be viewed as forced. However, opinions were divided during the deliberation as critics pointed out that the participants' hesitant reactions were used as material for laughter.

According to the minutes of the 26th Broadcasting Review Subcommittee meeting of the Broadcasting, Media and Communications Standards Commission released on the 29th, the subcommittee deliberated on the 'Running Man' episode broadcast on November 23 of last year and resolved "no problem." The minutes were made public on the 21st. Kim Min-jeong, chair of the Broadcasting Review Subcommittee, along with members Kim Woo-seok, Kim Il-gon, and Jo Seung-ho, expressed "no problem" opinions, while member Hong Mi-ae stated that "opinion presentation," which corresponds to administrative guidance, was necessary. Four out of the five members judged that no separate sanctions were required.

The controversial scene was the 'Kissing for No Reason' game featured in the broadcast starring actress Ahn Eun-jin and Kim Mu-jun. In the game, a blindfolded participant tries to guess who kissed them, and the broadcast showed scenes where participants were asked to perform additional kisses to deduce the correct answer. The broadcast also showed Ahn Eun-jin being asked to perform additional actions after kissing Yang Se-chan on the wrist.

Following the broadcast, criticism arose that the setup and progression of the game were inappropriate. In particular, a complaint was submitted to the regulatory body questioning the appropriateness of scenes requiring physical contact from female participants being aired during family viewing hours. The criticism noted that even within the format of a variety show game, it was questionable whether it was appropriate to use the hesitant reactions of participants as comedic material or to demand repeated physical contact.

However, the majority opinion held that it was difficult to judge the scene as a violation of deliberation regulations. Subcommittee chair Kim Min-jeong explained that the participants were aware of the content and method of the game and that it was difficult to see the contact as being forced against the other party's will. She stated, "I did not think this could be viewed as sexual speech or sexual physical contact."

Kim continued, "I thought that just because an expression might be received as somewhat uncomfortable, it is difficult to view it as an expression prohibited by the deliberation regulations." Her judgment was that a distinction must be made between viewers feeling uncomfortable and a violation being established that requires sanctions under broadcasting deliberation regulations. The decision placed primary weight on the voluntary participation of the participants and the variety context of the program.

On the other hand, member Hong Mi-ae expressed a view that there was a problem with the scene. She pointed out that the broadcast inevitably caused controversy regarding sexual harassment, noting that the show used the hesitant or flustered reactions of female participants as material for laughter. Her view was that the appropriateness of a scene cannot be fully explained solely by the pretext of it being a game, and that the participants' reactions and the way the broadcast consumes them must also be examined.

However, Hong judged that the matter did not require legal sanctions. Considering the nature of variety programs and the fact that there were scenes where the participants' expressions of refusal were respected, she submitted an "opinion presentation," stating, "I judged that 'administrative guidance' might be more appropriate than 'legal sanctions'." This is interpreted as a judgment that while heavy punishment was not deemed necessary, there was a need to call attention to the matter during the broadcasting production process, similar to the majority opinion.

This deliberation demonstrated that conclusions can differ based on the criteria used for the same scene. While the majority opinion focused on the spontaneity of the participants and the nature of the physical contact, the minority opinion emphasized the hesitation shown by the participants and the context of the broadcast being during family viewing hours. The Broadcasting Review Subcommittee ultimately resolved "no problem" for the broadcast following the opinions of four out of the five members. However, the conclusion that the broadcast is not subject to sanctions does not mean the debate regarding the discomfort felt by viewers or the methods of expression in variety shows has disappeared.

Read the original (Korean)