DSP Media explains Hara’s controversy on SBS’s ‘Running Man’

KARA’s Hara recently came under an all too familiar controversy for speaking informally to her seniors during her guesting on the June 26th episode of SBS’s ‘Running Man‘.

The episode featured her and No Sa Yeon as guests and the two took part in a ‘queen bee race’ as a mission. While waiting for the other members and looking outside a window, Hara said, “Are they Gary and HaHa oppa? Or Yoo-ssi? Yoo Jae Suk?” Later, while working on a mission with Song Ji Hyo, she said, “Ji Hyo has changed. Ah, Ji Hyo?”


It’s customary for Koreans to add a title to the end of the names of seniors, and even juniors if you’re unfamiliar with them, as an act of respect. The problem lay in the fact that she did not include a -nim, -ssi, or -sunbaenim (senior) at the end of their names.

Representatives of DSP Media cleared the issue with Star News, “As it is a variety program, Goo Hara tried to be funny. She’s actually close with Yoo Jae Suk as well. She tried to be as comfortable as possible, but if that created misunderstandings with the viewers, we would like to apologize.”

Meanwhile on June 27th, Hara wrote through her Twitter, “I just saw ‘Running Man’. I’m really sorry. I made a mistake while only thinking of how to make it fun. I really didn’t have such intentions. I was so immersed in the show and worked hard for it. In the future, I promise to pay more attention and be careful. I will be a Hara that always works hard.”

After the broadcast, netizens had flocked to the board to write, “A variety is just a variety” and “She’s just trying to be funny, let’s try not to over-analyze the situation.” Others wrote, “Even if it is a variety, it can make viewers uncomfortable.”


source: allkpop