KBS Entertainment Chief Addresses 'Hong Kim Dong Jeon' Cancellation
Han Kyung-cheon, the head of KBS's entertainment division, shared his thoughts on the cancellation of the show 'Hong Kim Dong Jeon' during a spring program briefing held on March 7 at KBS's new building in Yeouido, Seoul. He stated, "I don't believe the cancellation of 'Hong Kim Dong Jeon' is an issue with the channel itself." The show was discontinued in January 2024 due to low viewership, maintaining ratings around 1%. However, it achieved significant popularity on the OTT platform Wavve, ranking first in the non-drama category.
Following its cancellation, 'Hong Kim Dong Jeon' was rebranded as 'Driver: Looking for the Lost Screw' and premiered on Netflix on February 23, 2025. The new show features original cast members Kim Suk, Hong Jin-kyung, Jo Se-ho, Joo Woo-jae, and Woo Young, with PD Park In-seok at the helm. While it struggled on KBS, it has since topped global charts on Netflix, leading to speculation that the cancellation was more about the channel than the program itself.
Han noted, "The energy of 'Hong Kim Dong Jeon' on KBS and 'Driver: Looking for the Lost Screw' on Netflix is different. Although 'Hong Kim Dong Jeon' aired for over a year and a half targeting younger viewers, KBS, as a public broadcaster funded by license fees, faced financial constraints that affected its production quality. The regulatory environment for public broadcasting differs significantly from that of OTT platforms, which impacts how content is developed. We cannot compromise on issues of indecency and violence. KBS must ensure that its programs are suitable for family viewing, regardless of their popularity."
Additionally, regarding the return of 'Problematic Men' Season 2, which features some members from 'Hong Kim Dong Jeon', Han clarified that this was not a deliberate casting choice. CP Park Min-jeong expressed that KBS colleagues were pleased to see 'Driver: Looking for the Lost Screw' achieve Netflix's number one spot, adding, "Kim Suk is an original member, and Hong Jin-kyung had previously been a guest MC. She has expressed interest in returning whenever a spot opens up. Joo Woo-jae was selected for his chemistry with Kim Jong-kook. The genres of 'Hong Kim Dong Jeon' and 'Driver: Looking for the Lost Screw' are different, so viewers can expect new points of interest."
