Kim Soo-hyun's Controversy Affects MBC's 'Good Day' Broadcast

The ongoing personal controversy surrounding actor Kim Soo-hyun has now impacted his appearance on the MBC variety show 'Good Day' (굿데이). On March 20, the production team announced that the sixth episode, scheduled to air on March 23, will be canceled. They stated, "We will take a week off to reorganize the program," and mentioned that a special episode of another MBC show, 'I Live Alone' (나 혼자 산다), will air in its place.

While the specific reasons for the cancellation were not disclosed, it is believed that the decision is related to editing Kim Soo-hyun's segments in light of the recent backlash he has faced. This criticism stems from allegations made by the YouTube channel 'Garo Sero Research Institute' regarding his past relationship with the late actress Kim Sae-ron, who was a minor at the time.

The channel has claimed, citing Kim Sae-ron's family, that Kim Soo-hyun was involved in a six-year relationship with her starting from her third year of middle school, raising suspicions of 'grooming' behavior. Additionally, Kim Soo-hyun's agency, Gold Medalist, reportedly pressured Kim Sae-ron's family over a 700 million won compensation claim related to her drunk driving incident, suggesting that Kim Soo-hyun was complicit in this.

In response, Kim Soo-hyun's team has denied these allegations, labeling them as defamatory. However, public sentiment against him has continued to grow, spilling over into discussions about 'Good Day.' Fans have flooded the show's official website with requests for Kim Soo-hyun's removal, and criticism has also been directed at the show's director, Kim Tae-ho.

The situation intensified on March 13 when Kim Soo-hyun attended a filming session for 'Good Day' after initially stating he would not participate due to a last-minute regional event. The production team proceeded without him, but he later arrived, leading to minimal editing of his segments during the recording.

In the fifth episode aired on March 16, Kim Soo-hyun was still featured, albeit briefly, due to the show's ensemble format and the presence of high-profile guests like G-Dragon from BIGBANG. This has further fueled criticism towards 'Good Day.' Following the fifth episode, the production team released a statement acknowledging the seriousness of the controversy surrounding the cast and emphasized their commitment to prioritizing viewer feedback.

However, 'Good Day' is pre-recorded and airs not only on MBC but also on domestic OTT platform Wavve and globally on Disney+, which complicates the timing of edits and releases. The global OTT platforms often require faster edits for international audiences, adding pressure on production teams. Despite this, 'Good Day' has opted to cancel its broadcast on Disney+, indicating the ongoing sensitivity surrounding the Kim Soo-hyun controversy. As G-Dragon continues to receive positive attention, it remains to be seen whether his popularity can overshadow the negative sentiments surrounding Kim Soo-hyun. The future of 'Good Day' is now under close scrutiny.