Moon Chae-won Responds to “SNL” 19+ Controversy “I Did My Best, But Some Moments Were Clumsy”
SNL Korea is under fire again for excessive sexual content in its May 10 episode.
The controversy stems from a sketch titled Kangaroo Dating, where guest host Moon Chae Won played a childhood friend of comedian Kim Won-hoon. The segment, initially lighthearted, sparked criticism for its overly suggestive tone and physical interactions.
Scenes Spark Viewer Outrage
In one segment, Moon’s character handed Kim a pair of short shorts and watched him change clothes, quipping, “We used to bathe together when we were kids,” before making a suggestive remark: “But you’ve grown a lot since then,” while glancing at his lower body.
The most controversial moment came during a scene set on a bed, where Moon instructed Kim to lie down and then pressed her foot against his groin area, making a rubbing motion. Another scene featured her rubbing his legs with a towel, creating an overtly sensual atmosphere.
Online viewers reacted strongly after the episode aired:
“This goes way beyond comedy.”
“It’s bordering on sexual harassment.”
“They’re focusing more on shock value than humor.”
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Pattern of Sexual Innuendo
This isn’t the first time SNL Korea has faced criticism for pushing boundaries. Just weeks earlier, the April 26 episode featuring Kim Sa-rang sparked similar concerns.
In that episode, a scene showed Kim Sa-rang sharing a drink through a straw with Shin Dong-yup, only for Kim Won-hoon to insert the straw into her mouth again, prompting viewer complaints about the inappropriate nature of the content.
Netizens Call for Restraint
Although the show carries a 19+ rating, many argue that such scenes go beyond the bounds of acceptable adult humor, especially when disguised as comedy.
Critics point out that while SNL Korea is modeled after its American counterpart known for edgy humor, it has increasingly crossed lines of decency, leaning more on sexual provocation than clever satire.
Calls for more editorial oversight and a return to well-crafted, meaningful parody continue to grow. Whether the show will take these criticisms seriously remains to be seen, but the latest backlash adds to the mounting concern over SNL Korea’s creative direction.
Moon Chae-won Responds to “SNL” 19+ Controversy
On May 11, Moon Chae-won wrote on her personal social media account, “It was my first time doing a stage like this, so I was very nervous. But I spent a special time with the entire SNL production team, writers, senior Shin Dong-yup and the best actors. Many people put in a lot of effort and passion for the Saturday night 8 PM broadcast, and while I also did my best on set, I think some clumsy moments were captured as well.”
She added, “I’m truly grateful to the audience members who came to the set.”
