MBC's '오늘N' Faces Controversy Over PD's Conduct

The MBC program '오늘N' aired its 2408th episode on January 2, 2025, without addressing the controversy surrounding the attitude of the segment's PD from the previous episode. The issue arose during the January 1 broadcast, where the segment '좋지 아니한가(家)' featured a grandfather living in a traditional earthen house in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province. Viewers criticized the PD for being excessively rude towards the grandfather, who shared his life story.

During the segment, the PD made dismissive comments, such as stating, 'I'm not at the age to appreciate earthen houses yet,' when the grandfather suggested the benefits of his home. Additionally, the PD sarcastically suggested the grandfather should focus on farming instead of pursuing his passion for drumming. When the grandfather offered to share his homegrown mushrooms, the PD replied, 'You can find those in Seoul markets,' and when offered freshly caught chicken, he said, 'I only like fried chicken.' The PD even criticized the grilled chicken, saying it seemed burnt, leading to widespread backlash online.

Following the broadcast, social media and online communities erupted with criticism of the PD's behavior, prompting calls for an official apology and even a change in the production team. In response to the growing outrage, the production team deleted the controversial segment from their VOD service, which only fueled further criticism for not issuing a formal apology. Some viewers even filed complaints with the Korea Communications Standards Commission.

Ultimately, the production team released a statement on their official website, apologizing for the distress caused to viewers and acknowledging the inappropriate behavior of the PD. They assured that they had contacted the grandfather to apologize and would take extra precautions in future productions to prevent similar incidents. However, many viewers were left wanting a direct acknowledgment of the issue during the live broadcast, as the episode concluded without any mention of the controversy, leaving the matter seemingly unresolved.