KBS' 'Smoking Gun' marks 100 episodes, shifts focus from victims to perpetrators
Creator, cast of KBS' flagship crime show discuss the show's longevity, goals going forward
Crime shows often concentrate on advising viewers how to avoid becoming victims, from locking doors to staying wary of strangers. But 'Smoking Gun" takes a markedly different approach, aiming to explore how society can prevent the emergence of perpetrators.
KBS' 'Smoking Gun,' which premiered in 2023, has built a steady audience with its detailed examination of real-life crime cases, combining forensic science analysis with firsthand accounts. The show features leading forensic medicine expert Professor Yu Seong-ho and MC Ahn Hyun-mo, a former SBS anchor and reporter.
Marking a major milestone, "Smoking Gun" is set to air its landmark 100th episode Tuesday night.
At a press conference held Monday in Yeouido, Seoul, Ahn credited the show's success to its unique casting approach. Instead of relying on celebrities or professional hosts, the creators invite individuals directly involved in the cases, including investigators, defense attorneys, victims and family members.
'We could cast famous entertainers or MCs who are eloquent and easily recognizable when people flip through channels, but instead, we feature those who were directly involved in the cases — even if their speech is a bit rough around the edges,' Ahn said.
'I believe the dedication of our writers, who manage to invite such people for every episode, played a huge role (in ensuring the show's longevity).'
Going forward, the program intends to delve deeper into the motives behind criminal behaviors — an angle often overlooked in crime programs, said the show's producer, Kim Jong-seok.
'Many crime programs show cases involving psychopaths, but they tend to conclude simply that 'they're just different from normal people.' I felt it was important to analyze why these individuals committed such acts,' he said.
'Understanding motives is crucial because that's how we can develop ways to prevent such people from emerging again.'
Kim pointed to the case of Jung Yoo-jung, who was sentenced to life in prison for murdering a woman she targeted via a tutoring app. Diagnosed as a psychopath, experts noted she lacked a 'secure base' — a stable psychological foundation typically formed during childhood.
'I wanted to convey that for a child to grow into a well-adjusted human being, parents need to become that secure base,' Kim explained. 'The more I worked on the show, the more I felt the need to share messages like that.'
Ahn echoed the director's views, highlighting the show's contribution to crime prevention by encouraging societal reflection.
'Usually, crime-related shows focus on how not to become a victim, but our program makes people think about how society can stop producing perpetrators in the first place,' she said.
'It encourages reflection. If I'm a parent, a teacher, or someone fulfilling their responsibilities at work, what can I do to make sure I'm not contributing to the creation of a future perpetrator? It shifts the mindset from 'I need to avoid criminals' to 'I need to do my part, live responsibly and speak kindly to others.''
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
6 hours ago
- Korea Herald
KBS' 'Smoking Gun' marks 100 episodes, shifts focus from victims to perpetrators
Creator, cast of KBS' flagship crime show discuss the show's longevity, goals going forward Crime shows often concentrate on advising viewers how to avoid becoming victims, from locking doors to staying wary of strangers. But 'Smoking Gun" takes a markedly different approach, aiming to explore how society can prevent the emergence of perpetrators. KBS' 'Smoking Gun,' which premiered in 2023, has built a steady audience with its detailed examination of real-life crime cases, combining forensic science analysis with firsthand accounts. The show features leading forensic medicine expert Professor Yu Seong-ho and MC Ahn Hyun-mo, a former SBS anchor and reporter. Marking a major milestone, "Smoking Gun" is set to air its landmark 100th episode Tuesday night. At a press conference held Monday in Yeouido, Seoul, Ahn credited the show's success to its unique casting approach. Instead of relying on celebrities or professional hosts, the creators invite individuals directly involved in the cases, including investigators, defense attorneys, victims and family members. 'We could cast famous entertainers or MCs who are eloquent and easily recognizable when people flip through channels, but instead, we feature those who were directly involved in the cases — even if their speech is a bit rough around the edges,' Ahn said. 'I believe the dedication of our writers, who manage to invite such people for every episode, played a huge role (in ensuring the show's longevity).' Going forward, the program intends to delve deeper into the motives behind criminal behaviors — an angle often overlooked in crime programs, said the show's producer, Kim Jong-seok. 'Many crime programs show cases involving psychopaths, but they tend to conclude simply that 'they're just different from normal people.' I felt it was important to analyze why these individuals committed such acts,' he said. 'Understanding motives is crucial because that's how we can develop ways to prevent such people from emerging again.' Kim pointed to the case of Jung Yoo-jung, who was sentenced to life in prison for murdering a woman she targeted via a tutoring app. Diagnosed as a psychopath, experts noted she lacked a 'secure base' — a stable psychological foundation typically formed during childhood. 'I wanted to convey that for a child to grow into a well-adjusted human being, parents need to become that secure base,' Kim explained. 'The more I worked on the show, the more I felt the need to share messages like that.' Ahn echoed the director's views, highlighting the show's contribution to crime prevention by encouraging societal reflection. 'Usually, crime-related shows focus on how not to become a victim, but our program makes people think about how society can stop producing perpetrators in the first place,' she said. 'It encourages reflection. If I'm a parent, a teacher, or someone fulfilling their responsibilities at work, what can I do to make sure I'm not contributing to the creation of a future perpetrator? It shifts the mindset from 'I need to avoid criminals' to 'I need to do my part, live responsibly and speak kindly to others.''
Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Korea Herald
Whistleblower wins compensation in #MeToo case against senior Buddhist monk
Court orders compensation for years of sexual harassment, unfair HR move following disclosure A Seoul court awarded woman who exposed years of sexual harassment by a high-ranking Buddhist monk, and was subjected to disadvantages in personnel decisions afterward, 309.5 million won ($224,700) in compensation. The Seoul Northern District Court ruled in favor of the victim in a lawsuit against the perpetrator and the Jin-Gak Buddhist Order, which had reassigned her under unjustified circumstances after she came forward. The court found that the woman faced disadvantageous personnel decisions, including a forced transfer, after revealing the abuse in 2021. In an interview with local broadcaster SBS, she said the monk, who was in his 50s, repeatedly touched her without her consent her after she joined the order in 2017 as a 25-year-old. A colleague of the victim supported this claim in the same report, saying she was visibly uncomfortable about the accused's physical contact in the office. After the #Metoo accusation, the order's disciplinary committee initially imposed a five-year suspension on the monk in December of 2021. But the decision was later revoked by the order's leadership, which instead transferred the victim to its Daejeon branch. Of the court-ordered compensation of 309.5 million won, 100 million won is for the sexual harassment and 200 million won is for the unjust transfer. The remaining amount is to compensate for the therapy and treatment the victim received as a result of the attack. In November last year, Jin-Gak Order and its human resources official responsible for the problematic transfer were convicted of violating the Sexual Violence Prevention and Victims Protection Act and the Public Interest Whistleblower Protection Act. The monk was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, in February, and is currently under appellate trial after appealing the ruling.
Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Korea Herald
How Dongtan turned into an online punching bag
Caricatured for its stylish moms and chore-sharing dads, a new town in a Seoul suburb has become target of both aspiration and mockery While a fitted knit or cotton dress may be seen as everyday wear in most places, in South Korea, it has come to symbolize one particular neighborhood: Dongtan. Nicknamed the 'Dongtan look,' this casual yet sensual style is frequently linked to women in their 30s and 40s living in the fast-growing suburban area south of Seoul known for its corporate hubs and high proportion of young married couples. What began as an internet joke has recently sparked social controversy, as some online marketplaces here and in Japan are selling figurines named after the district, portraying women in overtly sexualized dresses that accentuate their curves and cleavage. "This isn't just about a meme anymore. It's blatant discrimination based on region and gender. A lot of foreigners live in Dongtan, and it's embarrassing to see the area tied to such a sexualized image," one user wrote in a post on Naver Blog. There is also a male-centered meme for young married men in Dongtan -- 'Ppongppong-nam' which is a satirical Korean term that combines the name of a well-known local dish soap brand with the Korean word for man. The expression, which has gained popularity across online forums and social media, has been used to mock Dongtan husbands in single-income households who are perceived as submissive to their stay-at-home wives. They are often depicted doing chores like washing dishes and cleaning, while their spouses take the lead in family matters. Jealousy turned into hatred? Dongtan, a planned urban district about 40 kilometers south of Seoul, has experienced rapid population growth since its development in the early 2000s, driven by the construction of major corporate facilities by firms such as Samsung and Hyundai Motor. The youthful district -- with its population averaging 35 years old as of last year, according to data compiled by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety -- is home to many high-income parents with children, shaping a community driven by a strong zeal for education. Although Dongtan falls under the administrative jurisdiction of Hwaseong, its residents often see themselves not as citizens of Hwaseong, but as citizens of a de facto city of their own. Regarding the online memes disparaging their neighborhood, some Dongtan residents say they are the distorted expressions of outsiders' aspirations. Ahn, a working mom in her 40s who has lived in Dongtan for seven years, believes that the Dongtan dress meme reflects 'jealousy' toward Dongtan mothers who can afford both the time and money to maintain their appearance. 'Honestly, it's not easy to wear a tight dress like that when you're taking care of kids. You've really got to stay in shape. A lot of moms in Dongtan can manage that. They have both the time and money to take care of themselves, whether it's working out or getting facial treatments,' she told The Korea Herald. 'I think some people are just envious of the moms here, so they make fun of them online. It's not like anyone can just wear a dress like that.' Kong, 34, a middle school teacher in Dongtan who interacts frequently with local parents, partly agreed with Ahn's view that the memes may be rooted in jealousy, noting that people in Dongtan, on average, have relatively high incomes. Some argue that while Dongtan memes may appear to target women and men separately, they are more likely directed at parents as a whole, often spread by those who have had negative experiences with the area's tight-knit parenting culture. 'There are a lot of newly built, brand-name apartment complexes here. Each complex usually has its own group chat where parents come together to organize events and quickly share information on parenting and education. Even the kids tend to remember each other's apartment names and form groups based on that,' said an English teacher surnamed Kong who has taught at a middle school in Dongtan for the past eight years. 'Some parents form cliques based on economic status, but they're not the majority. It's just a small number of people who have made Dongtan look bad, and that kind of reputation spread through memes,' she added. How spaces shape cliquishness Describing Dongtan as a 'gated community,' Kim Jina, a research associate professor of the College of Liberal Studies at Seoul National University and an expert in anthropology and landscape architecture, explained that planned areas like Dongtan are structurally designed to create a sense of cliquishness, which often leads to feelings of alienation among outsiders. 'Dongtan is structured around large brand-name apartment complexes with high walls and security systems that keep them separate from the outside. This setup makes residents feel safe and gives them a sense of belonging, while also creating communities of people with similar backgrounds,' Kim said. She also pointed out that Dongtan's homogeneous commercial landscape, including large shopping malls, cafe streets and clusters of private academies, encourages residents to develop similar spending patterns, further reinforcing its cliquishness. Living and spending in such similarly structured spaces naturally fosters shared lifestyles and creates the impression that the community is difficult for outsiders to enter, she added. 'In planned cities that lack historical or cultural roots, people tend to express identity through lifestyle and consumption. This is often portrayed in misleading ways online.' A new class divide? Kim analyzed the Dongtan memes as an indication of a shift in Korean regionalism, from stereotypes linked to one's birthplace to class distinctions based on current residential areas that function as markers of socioeconomic status. Widely used distinctions such as Gangnam and Gangbuk, old city centers and new towns, and apartment and non-apartment housing often imply class differences. Memes about Dongtan are seen as an extension of these region-based social divisions, according to Kim. 'Online memes often target areas like Dongtan or Seoul's famous Daechidong in Gangnam District, where the cost of living creates a significant barrier to entry. To those unable to afford to live in such areas, online memes provide a way to express frustration behind the mask of anonymity.' She warned of the negative psychological effects that online memes targeting certain regions may place on their residents. "Social stigma fueled by region-based memes often leaves residents feeling the need to defend themselves, which can weaken their emotional attachment to the community. In some cases, people may begin to conform to the stereotypes, or react in exaggerated ways to reject them," she said.
