Owl Rock, 5 minutes 23 seconds, Hoo-hoo-hoo... Park Tae-jun's Ilbe controversy blocks 'Manager Kim's' path [★FOCUS]

*This content was translated by AI.

SBS's Friday-Saturday drama "Manager Kim," starring actor So Ji-sub, has emerged as this year's top box office hit. However, past allegations of Ilbe involvement against Park Tae-jun, who served as the overall producer of the original webtoon, have resurfaced, plunging the series into continuous controversy.

According to Nielsen Korea's data released on the 5th, the fourth episode of "Manager Kim" (script by Nam Dae-jung, directed by Lee Seung-young and Lee So-eun), broadcast the previous day, recorded a national average viewership rating of 21.6% and a Seoul metropolitan area average of 22.7%. The peak instantaneous viewership reached as high as 25.1%. This makes it the first drama since 2024 to surpass the 20th% mark based on national ratings, approximately two years later.

Unwelcome news also followed the hit drama "Manager Kim." Past allegations of Ilbe involvement against Park Tae-jun, who oversaw production of the original webtoon, have resurfaced.

On the 3rd, YouTuber "Geoji Eoptda" (Almost None), appearing on the YouTube channel "Yeouido Yeolmunrae-dong," pointed to a scene from Park Tae-jun's 2015 work "Appearance Obsession." In the scene, a character uses a stopwatch to measure "5 minutes 23 seconds," while a shop sign in the background reads "Rock Owling." The explanation states that "5 minutes 23 seconds" evokes the date of former President Roh Moo-hyun Jeon (President)'s passing on May 23, and "Rock Owling" recalls the location of his death, Owl Rock.

Regarding this, "Geoji Eoptda" stated, "The character looks at a stopwatch and says '5 minutes 23 seconds.' Former President Roh Moo-hyun Jeon (President) passed away on May 23. Five minutes is five minutes, 5 minutes 30 seconds is 30 seconds—what about 5 minutes 23 seconds? Creators do not casually insert such details."

Additionally, a dining scene featuring an organized crime gang member in "Appearance Obsession" was criticized as potentially mocking former President Roh Moo-hyun Jeon (President)'s actual eating habits. At the time, online communities overlaid photos of Roh's meals onto the controversial dining scene, revealing striking matches in lip shape, mouth wrinkles, and forehead lines, further intensifying the controversy.

Furthermore, Park Tae-jun's 2021 work "Diary of Desire" was also criticized for using the expression "Hoo-hoo-hoo," which was reportedly used to mock then-President Moon Jae-in.

As allegations of Ilbe involvement surfaced due to multiple works, Park Tae-jun denied them, stating, "It's absurd. Even if I am an uneducated and inadequate person, I am not someone who would do such a thing using the late president's photo, nor do I have the courage." However, throughout repeated Ilbe allegations, Park consistently maintained that it was merely coincidental and expressed feelings of injustice, a stance that analysts argue actually worsened the situation.

The long-standing controversy surrounding Park Tae-jun's alleged Ilbe involvement has ultimately created a crisis that could block the path of "Manager Kim," which achieved over 20% viewership. Of course, "Manager Kim" itself is not directly related to the Ilbe controversy, and the original webtoon "Manager Kim" was not drawn by Park Tae-jun. The story for the original webtoon was created by Toyi, illustrations by Jeong Jong-taek, and direction and storyboarding by Gyaoo. Park Tae-jun served as the overall producer.

Nevertheless, it is widely argued that "Manager Kim" cannot be entirely free from this controversy because it shares the worldview of what is known as the "Park Tae-jun Universe." As these allegations spread, voices calling for a boycott of "Manager Kim" are growing louder, raising questions about whether the drama's success can continue.

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*This content was translated by AI.