Netizen Buzz did a good job translating an article on Net News titled TV show Sharehouse forces designer Kim Jae Woong to come out. I'm not really sure why they didn't translate the entire article, but I wanted to translate the rest of the thoughts the editor had on the manner in which Kim Jae Woong came out on Sharehouse. If you see any problems with my translation, please let me know!
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동성애에 대한 사회적인 인식은 홍석천의 커밍아웃이 있던 시기와는 확연하게 다르다. 김재웅의 용기있는 고백에 대한 응원의 박수를 보내는 목소리도 만만치 않다. 그러나 이 방송은 씁쓸한 뒷맛을 남긴다. 이는 동성애의 문제가 아닌, 커밍아웃을 담아낸 연출의 문제다.
The societal perspective when Hong Seok Cheon came out compared to contemporary times is distinctively different. There was much positive response to the brave confession of Kim Jae Woong. However, this broadcasting left a bitter taste in viewer’s mouths. This isn’t a result from homosexuality per se, but they way the director prodded his confession.
동성애에 대한 사회적인 인식은 홍석천의 커밍아웃이 있던 시기와는 확연하게 다르다. 김재웅의 용기있는 고백에 대한 응원의 박수를 보내는 목소리도 만만치 않다. 그러나 이 방송은 씁쓸한 뒷맛을 남긴다. 이는 동성애의 문제가 아닌, 커밍아웃을 담아낸 연출의 문제다.
The societal perspective when Hong Seok Cheon came out compared to contemporary times is distinctively different. There was much positive response to the brave confession of Kim Jae Woong. However, this broadcasting left a bitter taste in viewer’s mouths. This isn’t a result from homosexuality per se, but they way the director prodded his confession.
Kim Jae Woong’s secret could be expected by anyone who saw the first episode of “Sharehouse”. His feminine voice and gestures made the other roommates question his sexuality and the camera continuously showed the doubts of the members through subtitles questioning Kim Jae Woong’s identity. Anyone who watched the program could expect that Kim Jae Woong has a hidden secret.
이상민을 비롯한 멤버들은 "너는 남자가 목소리를 남자답게 바꿔야 할 것 같다"는 말을 했고, 심지어 김재웅의 커밍아웃을 이끌어 낸 말은 "남자가 좋니 여자가 좋니"라는 질문이었다. 딱히 질문자가 누구인지는 따지지 않아도 된다. '대본'과 '설정'의 티가 역력해 질문자 역시 연기를 했을 가능성도 적지 않으니 말이다.
Members, including Lee Sang Mi, said “you are changing your voice to sound more manly” and even asked “do you like men or women?” You don’t even need to know who was asking. The questioner also was clearly acting; the script and setup was much too obvious.
자연스러운 분위기도 아닌 작위적으로 연출된 카메라와 멤버들의 대사는 커밍아웃을 오히려 부자연스러운 것으로 만들었다. 이들이 한 가족으로 생활하면서 서로에 대해 속속 알아야 한다는 이유도 앞뒤가 맞지 않는다. 커밍아웃 전까지 서로 초면이라서 어색해 했으니 말이다.
The contrived direction of the camera and member’s dialogue around coming out created an unnatural scene rather than a natural atmosphere. It is not reasonable to say that the “members of the family” need to know each and every detail about their housemates as a reason for pushing for Kim to come out. Before he came out they barely knew each other, which created an awkward scene.
'셰어하우스'는 멤버들의 간격을 좁히는 방식에 있어서 성급했다. 한 집에서 생활하면서 가까워진 멤버들이 마음을 열고 스스로 자신의 속내를 고백하는 것이 아니었다. 자신의 비밀을 고백해야 한 집에서 생활할 때 가까워진다며 고백을 강요하는 아웃팅 밖에 되지 않았다.
They hurried to narrow the distance between each other in the broadcast. While living inside one house, he didn’t confess his secret as a way to open his heart toward members who were becoming closer. This broadcast sent the message that there is no other way other than confessing one’s secret to get closer to the other members, which eventually forced the confession.
In this show that just recently started, they are using this “reality” as a shield from criticism in order to stimulate viewership. Agonizing, contemplating, confessing, consoling: this is a derivative pattern from shows in the past that is found insincere by the viewers.
“Sharehouse” casted not only Kim Jae Woong but also other members who were chosen as they were hot topics in the news. Son Ho-yeong (who’s girlfriend committed suicide) and Cheon Lee Seul (who is Yang Sang Guk’s girlfriend) are examples of some of these hot topics.
물론 리얼리티 예능 프로그램에서 출연자들이 가진 재능, 비밀, 고백 등은 훌륭한 콘텐츠다. 다만 이렇게 서툰 연출은 커밍아웃 뿐만 아니라 출연자들의 어떤 고백도 진실되게 담아낼 수 없다. '셰어하우스'가 시청률과 화제성을 위해 출연자들의 비밀과 고백을 이용해 자극적이고 불편한 그림을 만들고 있지 않은지 경계할 필요할 있다. 더불어 '1인가구 450만명 시대에 대한 이야기를 담겠다'는 프로그램 취지는 어디로 갔는지 한 번 더 생각해볼 때다.
Of course, reality shows can have good contents such as the talent of the cast, secrets, or confessions. After observing this unskilled directing, however, we can see that it is not able to convey coming out or any confession of a cast member in a sincere way. The director needs to be vigilant in the ways “Sharehouse” makes stimulating and uncomfortable scenes through the use of secrets and confessions with the basis of having higher ratings. The objective of the show is to provide a story about the 4.5 million people who are living by themselves, so where exactly the show’s objective is going needs to be considered once more.