[Exclusive]Ri Senne Won-i: "Is it 'Ilbe'? That's scary..." Kim Si-deok: "The problem is those who impose frames" [Comprehensive Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

"(Political intent?) There is none. I want to make both leftists and rightists laugh."

As debates continue over singer Won-i of the girl group Ri Senne's use of the phrase "musobno," comedian Kim Si-deok clarified that "musobno" is an interrogative sentence-ending particle used in Gyeongsang-do dialects, warning against excessive political interpretations.

In a phone interview with StarNews on the 6th, after posting on social media, Kim Si-deok said about public reactions: "Most ordinary people feel we shouldn't frame something so obvious," adding, "Those deeply immersed in politics are still fighting each other, but people like us who just try to live our lives hard seem to think 'that's just how it is' and move on."

Kim Si-deok, originally from Ulsan, defended Won-i on the 5th via social media by posting that her use of dialect was correct. He argued that labeling her speech as "Ilbe-style" simply because she added "-no" at the end of a sentence is an overinterpretation.

Won-i, originally from Geoje in Gyeongsangnam-do, recently faced unexpected controversy labeled as "Ilbe" after using the dialect expression "musobno." The debate intensified when Kim Hyun-ji, PD of the documentary film Adult Kim Jang-ha, pointed out on social media on the 1st that the phrase was an "Ilbe-style hate expression," sparking online arguments. Political figures also weighed in, further expanding the controversy. Notably, Cho Kook of the Rebuilding Korea Party Jeon (CEO) criticized on his own social media in May: "They are defending Ilbe's use of '-no' at the end of sentences as a way to mock President Roh Moo-hyun, and there are people in Busan and Yeongnam who use it that way."

Kim Si-deok's social media post received both support and rebuttals. However, he stated he felt no burden about posting it. Kim said calmly: "I'm not even a particularly famous person now, nor do I have enough influence to cause harm to anyone if I were to be carpet-bombed over this."

Won-i's use of the phrase "musobno" in YouTube content was labeled as an "Ilbe-style hate expression," sparking ongoing online debates. Political figures also joined the controversy, fueling the fire.

Regarding some rebuttal comments, he said he does not care much. He added: "I try not to pay attention. If I engage with such people, it will only lead to arguments. Whether on social media or elsewhere, I want to communicate as much as possible with those who have known me for a long time. It's not my style to enjoy quarreling with strangers. When I post something, I hope people just think 'Oh, that's how they see it.' I don't intend to get swept up unnecessarily."

He also clearly drew a line regarding political intent. He emphasized: "There is absolutely no such intention. Both leftists and rightists are Korean people, so I want to make them all laugh. Why would I deliberately show political colors? I have no plan to be insulted by one side or gain advantage from the other."

After his social media post, requests also came for him to repost his past "dialect ability evaluation" content, but he laughed and said: "It doesn't get many views."

Kim Si-deok previously gained great popularity through the "Life Dialect" segment on Gag Concert. He became especially well-known for the catchphrase "I'll give you my daughter even if I have to bear her," which featured a Gyeongsang-do-style proposal.

Regarding the controversy over whether "musobno" is actually a Gyeongsang-do dialect, Kim Si-deok explained that expressions can vary by generation and region.

Kim said: "The dialects known to teenagers differ from those used by people in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s. That's why some say 'this isn't a dialect,' while others insist 'we've been using it for a long time.' Accents and words also vary slightly from town to town."

He continued: "During my active years, I studied dialect comedy extensively and read many linguistic resources and related books. While I am aware of regional differences, most ordinary people do not know such details. That's why I posted on social media, even if it might seem presumptuous. If experts in local culture or native language explain this, they would gain more trust." He spoke humbly.

Kim Si-deok also expressed concern that the current controversy is being excessively politicized.

He said: "Would a rising idol deliberately use such an expression to create controversy when even PDs are present? Wouldn't any reasonable person find it strange?" He pointed out: "The problem lies with those who try to frame, attack, slander, and fight in any way possible."

He added: "I received many insults via direct messages. People called me ' 모 ' and said things like 'Who do you think you are?' I don't respond because engaging only leads to fights. Finally, he remarked: "It seems nowadays, people pick even the smallest excuse to start a fight and enjoy it by saying 'they got scratched.' It's sad that the era of hatred is becoming increasingly severe."

Meanwhile, on the 5th, Kim Si-deok posted on his social media: "The world asks me 'musobno?' I was born and raised in Gyeongsang-do and lived without thinking, using dialect freely. Later, when I started earning money with Gyeongsang-do dialect, I searched for many dialect-related materials and books. Won-i of Ri Senne used 'musobno' correctly as an interrogative sentence-ending particle. Since some people started labeling anyone using '-no' as Ilbe, I replied with phrases like 'mwarano,' 'waikano,' or 'ilbe aidada.'"

He further explained: "If you dig deeper into Gyeongsang-do dialects, for example, 'Is there?' and 'Is there not?' are expressed differently by region. In Gyeongbuk, it's 'inni kkyeo? eopni kkyeo?', while in Gyeongnam, it's 'isseuye? eopseuye?'. Going even deeper, even among metropolitan cities like Busan-Ulsan-Daegu (BUD), dialects differ. And if you go further, small towns like Masan-Changwon-Jinhae and Geoje-Tongyeong-Namhae also have distinct dialects. Even the dialects used by grandparents differ from those used by younger generations today."

Kim Si-deok particularly emphasized: "Only accents remain while words are forgotten, and even sentence-ending particles are fading. I believe dialects are precious cultural assets of our country."

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*This content was translated by AI.