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Tue, September 26, 2023 | 18:42
Naver
Gag Concert offends with another witless blackface gag
정신나간 개콘, 흑인분장 언제까지?
Posted : 2014-07-09 14:34
Updated : 2014-07-09 17:47
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By Kim Tong-hyung

Let's cut to the point and call "Gag Concert" for what it is: the worst show on Korean television, a spectacle of awfulness put together by brain-dead writers and medium-talent comedians who might have collectively missed out on the 21st century.


Despite this, state-run network KBS will continue to put this "family entertainment" program in its primetime Sunday slot as it has for the past 15 years.

In its June 29 episode, Gag Concert featured two performers wearing blackface make up and making fun of African tribal clothes in a skit about struggling theater actors.

It is the second time this year that the show resorted to blackface comedy. A February skit featured three performers with painted faces and curly wigs popping out of a cardboard drink machine because another female character wanted "coffee made from African beans."

Writing about the show in the KorAm Journal, columnist Steve Han asks, "Will they ever get it?" Well, who knows, but aren't we tired of waiting?

Korean television has a long and disturbing history of racial insensitivity.

In January 2012, the director of MBC's "Quiz that Changes the World" apologized after a blackface comedy sequence.

In December 2011, "Saturday Night Live Korea" was criticized after featuring a skit in which the comedians painted their faces to appear to be black singers.

Pop singer G-Dragon's selfie of his black-painted face on his Instagram account last year also landed him in hot water.

What is perhaps most depressing is that Gag Concert seems to be the quintessential Korean comedy show, even though it replaces intelligence, clever parody and wit with low-quality, slapstick humor that is often inappropriate.

If comedy were to have a social function, it would probably be creating and breaking tension and allowing the political and cultural minorities to confront the mainstream and get away with it.

That function is non-existent in Korea, where heavy-handed censorship authorities have maintained a tight grip on social commentary.

But of course, feel free to do fat jokes, mock women with bad hair and teeth, insult the homeless and ridicule people with learning disabilities.

And yeah, wouldn't it be funny if we paint ourselves black again?


정신나간 개콘, 흑인분장 언제까지?

그냥 단도직입적으로 말하자. 개그콘서트는 한국TV 최악의 프로그램이다. 창의력이 고갈된 작가들과 밋밋한 재능의 코미디언들이 모여서 만드는 엉망진창의 한 시간이다. 이들이 21세기를 경험한 사람들인지 조차 의심스럽다.

개그콘서트는 지난 6월 29일 방영분에서 배우 두 명이 온몸과 얼굴을 검게 칠하고 아프리카 부족의 전통 의상을 희화한 옷을 입고 나와서 연기했다.

개그콘서트 연기자들이 피부를 검게 칠하고 나온 것은 올해 들어서만 두 번째다. 2월에는 피부를 검게 칠하고 곱슬머리 가발을 쓴 연기자 세 명이 박스로 만든 커피 자판기에서 튀어나오는 연기를 하기도 하였다. 다른 연기자가 “아프리카 원두 커피”를 주문했기 때문이다.

한류의 확산에 대해서 들떠있는 글로벌 시대에 참으로 한심한 프로그램이 아닐 수 없다. 국영방송인 KBS는 도대체 무슨 생각으로 이런 코너를 여과 없이 내보내고 있는지 알 수가 없다. 

미국 코암저널 (KorAm Jounral )의 컬럼니스트 스티브 한은 “개그콘서트가 언제 정신 차릴 것인가”하고 한탄했다. 

한국TV의 인종차별적 묘사가 문제가 된 것은 어제 오늘 일이 아니다. 2012년에는 MBC 퀴즈쇼 “세바퀴”의 PD가 피부를 검게 칠한 연기자들이 나오는 설정코너를 방영해서 공개 사과하는 일도 있었다. SNL 코리아에서도 흑인 연예인을 흉내 낸다며 출연자들이 피부를 검게 칠하고 나온 일이 있었다.

“시커먼스”가 유행하던 시절에 인터넷이 없었던 것은 어쩌면 다행이었다. 지금도 그런 수준의 개그가 방영되고 있다는 것은 21세기를 사는 한국인으로서 창피한 일 아닌가. 

코미디가 꼭 사회적인 기능을 해야 하는 것은 아니다. 하지만 사회 비판이나 냉소가 없는 자리에 저질 슬랩스틱 유머를 끼워 넣고 있는 것이 개그콘서트가 대표하는 한국형 코메디가 아닌지 자괴감이 들기도 한다.

개그콘서트는 살이 찐 사람, “섹시 하지 않은” 여성, 노숙인과 지적 장애인 등의 사회적 약자를 끊임없이 비하해왔다. 이러한 저질 코미디의 경연장에서 피부를 검게 칠하고 나온 연기자들이 있었다는 것은 놀랄 일이 아닐지도 모른다. 
Emailthkim@ktimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
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