’Naggomsu’ silent on bikini controversy

By Yun Suh-young

The hosts of Internet podcast “Naneun Ggomsuda” (I’m a petty trickster)” did not apologize for the controversial “bikini support” they sought from female fans for an imprisoned colleague.

In the latest edition uploaded Wednesday — the fourth episode dedicated to fellow host, Chung Bong-ju, serving a jail term — they did not mention the bikini controversy.

The hosts of the show, often called “Naggomsu,” have been under growing pressure, especially from women’s rights groups, to apologize for the sexually-suggestive comments meant to embolden female fans.

The three remaining hosts had called for participation from women in an online club campaigning for Chung’s release, to cheer for him in bikinis since he was having a “hard time suppressing his sexual desires.” The post was uploaded on Jan 21.

Following the request, several women uploaded pictures of themselves in bikinis on the online club. One of the pictures which created a stir was one where a woman in a bikini wrote on her breasts “I want Chung out to the point of my breasts exploding.”

A week later on Jan. 27, when the three hosts visited Chung in prison, they left a written note to him saying “The breast pictures are awesome. Be careful not to get a nosebleed (from sexual arousal).” The three then took a picture of the note they wrote and uploaded it online.

Criticism exploded online after the comments they made quickly spread through Twitter. Novelist Gong Ji-young openly chastised them saying “I am very upset with the bikini controversy and request a sincere apology from the hosts” on Jan 28.

Regarding its silence, some criticized the show further, while other fans said the issue should be left alone. A tweeter, @nev*** said, “Their frivolous and immoral behavior should be denounced.” Another said the show had “crossed the line.”

Another Twitter user, however, advocated the podcast saying, “The show had always been sexual and crooked. It’s ironic asking them to become moral when the reason for liking them in the first place was for their impudence.”