Park Jinyoung—better known as J.Y. Park, founder of JYP Entertainment—is receiving mixed responses after revealing he was unfamiliar with the contestants while serving as a judge on Street Woman Fighter 3 (SWF3).
The moment unfolded on-air when fellow judge Mike Song asked Park Jinyoung, “Do you know about Marlee?” referring to a well-known dancer on the show. Park Jinyoung casually replied, “No, who’s that?” prompting Mike Song to explain her popularity and share insights into other contestants’ reputations.
But don’t judges usually get information about the contestants beforehand? I mean, sure, if it were a regular battle, fine — but this is a broadcast show. Is it really okay for a judge to not know who the dancers are and have to ask the person next to them during the show?
This candid admission quickly went viral, with netizens split on whether it’s acceptable for a judge to lack background knowledge on high-profile contestants in a televised competition.
- But hasn’t there always been at least one judge like that each season of Street Woman Fighter?
- They should’ve brought in a street dancer like LoveRan instead of Park Jinyoung…
- They said he was a special guest, so maybe that’s why it was kept a secret.
- Even if he doesn’t know who they are, it’s fine as long as he judges the dancing properly.
- If you’re not active in the scene, it’s not easy to remember all those dancers’ names… but he’s judging well.
As Street Woman Fighter 3 continues to heat up, so does the conversation around what makes a qualified judge. Park Jinyoung’s decision to rely solely on what he sees on stage—rather than contestants’ reputations—has sparked both praise and criticism.
While some see it as a refreshing return to unbiased evaluation, others believe a judge’s responsibility includes understanding the dancers’ journeys and past achievements.
