English-speaking couple on Korean reality TV riles some viewers
Actress Kim Min and her husband Lee Jie-ho have drawn a mixed response for using English most of the time on a Korean TV show. Captured from TV Chosun
By Dong Sun-hwa
Korean actress Kim Min and her Korean-American husband Lee Jie-ho have drawn a mixed reaction for mostly using English on TV Chosun's reality show “Taste of Wife,” Tuesday.
The couple, who live in Beverly Hills, California, opened up on the program about their high life. They used English most of the time, so Korean subtitles were needed for viewers. This seems to have irritated some.
“It was uncomfortable to see the pair talking mostly in English, despite appearing on a Korean show,” one online user said.
Another wrote: “Why did the program invite people who do not use Korean fluently? Did the crew not know that older-generation people have difficulties with reading subtitles?”
However, others said it was no big deal.
“The purpose of the show is to disclose unaffected lifestyles of different people. They used English merely because it was more comfortable for them,” a netizen wrote.
“Should Korean shows use Korean only? Then, why are those programs packed with foreign guests not controversial?” another commented.
Regarding the subtitles, an online user said: “But people still watch overseas films with subtitles.”
Kim married Lee, a film director-turned-businessman, in 2006 and has taken a break from acting since. They have a daughter.