Kim Byung-man Faces 'Labor Exploitation' Controversy on Survival King

In the latest episode of TV Chosun's Survival King (생존왕), which aired on November 25, 2024, Kim Byung-man's jungle world reached new heights, sparking discussions about 'labor exploitation' that brought laughter to viewers.

After recovering from an injury, Kim Byung-man showcased his dedication by bringing palm trees and a drawer to enhance the living conditions for his team. He crafted a jungle table from leaves, demonstrating his commitment to survival.

Kim's relentless work ethic did not go unnoticed, as team member Kim Dong-jun remarked, "If the leader doesn't take a break, the team members can't either," leading to humorous moments as they all pitched in to clean. The other members joked that with such a work ethic, Kim could easily win an Olympic gold medal, suggesting he would have achieved a second consecutive victory.

Continuing to move energetically, Kim called on his teammates, prompting a subtitle to appear that read, 'Labor exploitation has begun.' His discovery of vines led to an endless cycle of work, as the jungle team's interior design efforts continued. True to his survivalist spirit, Kim even broke into song, encouraging his teammates to join in, which resulted in them jokingly pleading for mercy, saying, "Now we understand why this team is always crying." They humorously noted that Kim's labor was scarier than being stranded on a deserted island.

Meanwhile, the allied Physical and Military teams reunited. Choo Sung-hoon suggested they cook together, and Lee Seung-gi chimed in, recalling how delicious the crab they had eaten the previous day was, proposing a deal with the production team for crab ramen. Lee expressed his exhaustion from the prolonged survival game, requesting a nourishing meal, which the producers agreed to, offering two ramen packets for each crab caught.

Later, the team visited Kim Byung-man's uniquely designed jungle home, where everyone exclaimed, "This is jungle world!" However, they soon noticed that the members appeared increasingly fatigued, prompting concern for their well-being. They joked about looking worn out, with comments about weight loss and fatigue, particularly towards Min-ji, who was also noted to look tired. They humorously remarked that despite the good environment, it felt like civilization and laughter had been exchanged for vitality.

As the jungle labor world continued under Kim Byung-man's leadership, the members admitted they were not as fit as before, feeling drained compared to their first day. Kim observed, "You said you would risk your life, but now you look like you're struggling. You don't even seem to have the strength to smile," which elicited laughter from the group.