Reality TV, a programming genre with the purpose of documenting unscripted and real moments. For entertainment purposes reality changes its guise however, reality becomes directed. This sub-genre of directed reality has become highly popular over the past two decades, with western shows like Big Brother, Survivor, The Real Housewives of …, and TOWIE rising in popularity.
South Korea too has these kind of shows, of course we’re not all tuning in to see The Real Housewives of Gangnam or The Only Way is Mapo, though interesting might be an understatement. What they do have is a multitude of variety shows with a varying level of direction. Directed reality can be good, bad and down right ugly, but despite its lowest points we’ll still keep watching. The roller coaster of entertainment led reality doesn’t look set to cease so we take a look at how it works through some of its highs and lows.
THE GOOD
Real Men [MBC] is praised as being a very true representation of the mandatory military service in South Korea. With many native young viewers expressing it has had positive effects for them. Both males and females have expressed that the show has made it easier for them to talk with those who haven’t experienced military service because there is a show that helps to explain it from a non-personal perspective.
Panel shows often appear to give guests freedom of speech and answer. Shows such as Ssul Jeon [JTBC] are praised for the frank talking of panellists such as Kim Heechul [Super Junior], though Heechul is an idol who has never been known for holding his tongue.
The recent trend in idol reality tv is almost like Celebrity Big Brother. Both SBS and OliveTV have launched shows in which famous people live together [Roommate and Share House respectively].
A high percentage of the Seoul population especially lives alone, there is even an idol reality show based on that concept [I Live Alone, MBC], and these new shows aim to explore the idea of group housing, exploring the pros and cons of living with others.
Roommate has arguably been the more popular of the two shows, with young artists such as Park Bom [2NE1], Nana [After School], and Chanyeol [EXO] featuring.
THE BAD
Real Men did come under criticism when a solider featured in the show spoke out on his Facebook that a scene was edited to show Henry [Super Junior M] in a more positive, yet maybe unrealistic, light.
Editing is one of the primary tools in all reality television that can be used to change the impression a scene gives, as the production team can simply remove anything they feel they do no want to include.
Some of the shows that appear to allow guests freedom of answer often use script prompts to gain answers they determine more entertaining.
Back in March of 2012 Miss A’s Suzy was criticised when appearing on 100 Million Quiz Show [SBS] for answering a question to hint at a connection with Kim Soo Hyun, an actor also highly popular at the time that she was often mentioned alongside. In response to the criticism Suzy simply tweeted ‘Script’.
THE TRULY UGLY
Share House was to be the first appearance of Son Ho Young [g.o.d] since the much publicised and tragic events of last year and OliveTV knew this would be big news as rumours of a g.o.d reunion flew around, these rumours of course later confirmed. The channel even ran a teaser clip featuring the first generation idol being asked by other male members in the house how he was now and Hoi attempting to hold back tears, another of a teary Hoi explaining how he felt returning to the entertainment world. One may have thought it would be other house members curiosities about Hoi’s past year that created the emotion and talking points for Share House but that would be far from the truth.
In episode two, the same episode that features the clip of Ho Young, one could never have imagined the scenes that would unravel to end the show …
Another male housemate is fashion designer Kim Jae Woong. From entering the house he had been subject to commentary about his femininity regarding his voice and actions.
After returning from seeing a female friend Jae Woong joins shoe designer Hwang Young Rong, model Song Hae Na, and actor Choi Sung Joon in the living area. To join them on the sofa he stands between the girls and wiggles to motion they should move, in an undeniably feminine way. As a Western viewer most would find nothing wrong with this, it is the look of distaste on Choi’s face that sets the scene for what is to come.
Gradually everyone joins the group and soon Kim’s main criticiser, singer and producer, Lee Sang Min is out for answers.
LSM: Be honest, do you like men, or women?
KJW: Whether I just met my girlfriend or a close noona, what does it matter to you?
LSM: We would be curious about this whether it was you or another member. You’re just being overly sensitive.
It is only Son Ho Young that stays silent once simple commentary on personality becomes intention to reveal Kim’s sexuality, one would consider maybe because Son has seen the worst kind of judgement directed towards himself over the past year he would never judge another for something they cannot change.
Was Kim being overly sensitive? No – We watched Kim try and laugh off Lee’s mocking of his feminine voice, Lee is targeting him and there is an issue for him to be sensitive about. Would Lee have asked the same of Sung Joon or Ho Young? No – Lee considers both Choi and Son to be masculine, they’ve both had public relationships with women, there is no question about their sexuality.
When Kim returned from a moment to himself alone in the garden he felt he had to explain himself.
KJW: I’m the same man as Sang Min hyung, Sung Joon hyung, and Ho Young hyung but there’s one difference between me and them and it’s that I like men. I’ve always been asked by others ‘what am I’ since I was little. I am not a monster.
Lee appeared to show no sorrow for his actions in forcibly outing Kim on television, in fact most of the housemates sat silently in the awkwardness they had created. Again it is Ho Young that breaks the mould, breaking the silence with his regular cheer to offer Kim a drink, a peace offering, almost a symbol from Son that it didn’t matter to him.
There are rumours that the cast members knew of Kim’s sexuality, though this has neither been confirmed nor denied. Though Kim has stated that to hide it from the others was never in his thoughts. In comments regarding his questionably forced outing Kim Jae Woong has said that he was okay with the way in which the show chose to air the scene, saying:
Since the beginning, I had no thought of hiding it. I only talked about it because the situation turned out this way. / Thank you all for your support. The scene might have looked like the Share House family members unintentionally preyed on me, but I’m really thankful and I love the Share House family who cared and supported me more than anyone else.
It was a mixture of reality scenario, scripted environment, and post production editing that saw Kim Jae Woong forcibly outed by Lee Sang Min.
The reaction to the scene has been mostly supportive towards Kim, even across portals such as Naver, where one might expect discrimination to shine. Netizens, both male and female, have been showing their support for Kim, and calling out both Lee for his actions, and Share House for their representation of the situation.
In a 2013 poll 71% of Koreans in the 18-29 age bracket supported the acceptance of homosexuality in society, and to see the younger generation showing this acceptance is a very positive sign.
SO…
If Real Men is edited to change our perception of the celebrities as the experience mandatory service; 100 Million Quiz Show uses script prompts to play on current trends; the environment of Share House has us watching members seemingly attacked for their sexuality; why do we keep on watching?
There are an endless number of reasons we watch television: We like to escape our own lives; we like to form connections with those we watch; how we are affected by a show or character might have us rooting for their ‘moment’; we are able to learn in a less rigid fashion; whatever the reason, we are entertained. We are willing to overlook the bad, and the truly ugly, to escape into something that is not always the reality it is billed to be.
Do you have a favourite variety show from South Korea? Do you mind that it uses elements of direction?
What are your thoughts on the times where shows and idols have come under fire for their direction of something billed as reality?
