Charges Dropped After Jang Dong Min Apologizes for Skit Making Fun of Children of Divorced Families

In the midst of a controversy over a comedy skit, Jang Dong Min has released an apology that announced his departure from tvN’s “Comedy Big League.”

On the April 3 broadcast of “Comedy Big League,” in the segment titled “Chungcheong Province’s Strength,” Jang Dong Min and Hwang Jae Sung participated in a skit that appeared to make fun of children of divorced families, specifically of how children of divorced families wait for child support and how they have to stay at two different houses. Following the broadcast, on April 7, tvN released a message on their official page that said, “We apologize for making viewers of ‘Chungcheong Province’s Strength” uncomfortable. Everything is the fault of the writers and we extend our apologies to the actors who believed in the writers as well,” and announced that particular corner will no longer be continued.

However, on April 10, Jang Dong Min wrote on his official Facebook page that he will also leaving the program, apologizing for the skit and hoping that no more controversy spreads to others involved in the program.

In the midst of this, comedian Yoo Sang Moo came to the aid of Jang Dong Min, defending him on a post on his Facebook. On the post written on April 10, he wrote, “That person was the man who gave strength to people like me and Yoo Se Yoon who came from one-parent households and took care of us and always stayed by us. Last summer, after sharing about wanting to spend a summer trip with children from one-parent households and other children who were going through hard times, although he could not be with us because of his schedule, he paid for our vacation house and Se Yoon paid for the meat. Please be well.”

A citizens’ organization that promotes non-discrimination of divorced families had filed charges against Jang Dong Min, the staff, and tvN for slander after the skit aired, but announced today that it has dropped the charges after seeing Jang Dong Min’s sincere apology and actions. It also revealed it received an apology from tvN and notice of disciplinary action against the staff members who were involved in the skit. The segment was also canceled by tvN. The organization also reiterated its goal of changing the negative perception and attitudes against children and adults of divorced families. 

Below is the full text of Jang Dong Min’s apology post:

Hello, I am comedian Jang Dong Min. First, I want to lower my head in apology for those who were hurt by this. To take responsibility for this, I will be leaving the program “Comedy Big League” that I love so much. I hope this will help to wash away some of the hurt that many people have held because of this.

And I’m sorry to trouble you again, but I do want to say something else. I hope that this controversy does not extend to my hoobae Hwang Jae Sung, who believed in me and followed me on the stage, nor to the directors and writers at tvN who believed in me and gave me an opportunity.

As a sunbae comedian, and as the protagonist who stood on stage, I want to say once again that I am deeply reflecting about my actions that have hurt many people. Once more, I give my sincere apologies.

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