모델 서바이벌 프로그램 ‘도전 수퍼모델 코리아4’ 도전자 정하은의 막말 논란에 제작진이 해명에 나섰다.
11일 케이블 TV 온스타일 ‘도전 수퍼모델 코리아4’(이하 도수코4) 제작사 측은 “지난 방송에서 출연자 정하은과 황현주를 한 방에 배정한 것에 대한 다른 의도는 없었다”고 밝혔다.
이어 “도전자들이 서바이벌이라는 힘든 상황 속에서 지쳐있는 상황에서 생긴 일이니 이해해 달라”고 전했다.
또, 제작사는 “해당 장면은 모든 경쟁을 내려놓고 숙소에서 어떤 생활을 하고 있는지를 보여주고 있는 장면이다. 미션 사이 도전자들의 긴장감과 일상을 그려넣기 위함이며 제작진의 의도와 달리 논란이 불거져 속상하다”고 해명했다.
앞서 지난 10일 방송된 이하 ‘도수코4’에서는 룸메이트로 지정된 참가자 정하은과 황현주 간의 갈등장면이 그려졌다.
이날 정하은은 특히 황현주를 향해 막말을 하는 등 언성을 높여 막말논란에 휩싸였다.
한편, ‘도수코4’는 매주 목요일 밤 11시 방송된다.
<관련 영문 기사>
Model audition show denies encouraging tiff
A South Korean model reality contest on Friday denied allegations that it had intentionally instigated a quarrel between two of its contestants to boost its ratings.
“We paired up Hwang Hyeon-ju and Jung Ha-eun (the two contestants of the show) as roommates hoping that they would reconcile, being in unfamiliar surroundings and all,” said an official from “Challenge: Supermodel Korea,” a TV show in which contestants vie for a chance at a modeling career. “We never meant for them to get in a fight.”
In Thursday’s episode, Hwang and Jung -- who had a history of bad blood between them -- shared a hotel room while visiting Busan to carry out one of the missions in the show. The two, however, got into a fierce war of words in their room.
Jung accused Hwang of being a goody-two-shoes while Hwang retaliated by a calling Jung “pretentious.” Profanities and much more shouting followed before Jung finally stormed out of the room.
After the episode was aired, many expressed suspicion that the producers of the “Challenge: Supermodel Korea” intentionally placed the two rivals in close quarters to egg on a quarrel and grab viewers’ attention. The fact that the catfight was not edited out also fueled such speculation.
The show denied the allegations and said it was “regretful” such allegations are being thrown at them.
“The program shows the natural behavior of the contestants, which is why Jeong’s profanities were aired.”
By Yoon Min-sik
(minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)
