MBC’s popular variety show Good Day is officially set to continue its broadcast, but without any further appearances from actor Kim Soo-hyun. This decision comes in response to a growing controversy regarding his alleged past relationship with the late actress Kim Sae-ron when she was a minor. The network has taken swift action, pledging to edit out all of his recorded segments as much as possible while maintaining the integrity of the show’s format
MBC’s Official Statement and Apology
On March 17, the Good Day production team released an official statement addressing the situation. “We sincerely apologize for causing concern among our viewers,” the statement read. “The production team acknowledges the gravity of the controversy involving one of our cast members and is making every effort to reflect the concerns of our audience”
MBC explained that because Good Day is pre-recorded, episodes are usually completed one to two weeks in advance to allow time for translation and international distribution. However, after the scandal gained traction, urgent editing was carried out to minimize Kim Soo-hyun’s presence. The March 16 episode, which had already been submitted for translation, was re-edited at the last minute, shortening the broadcast by approximately 10 minutes due to the removal of his scenes
Efforts to Minimize Kim Soo-hyun’s Screen Time
Despite already having recorded multiple episodes featuring Kim Soo-hyun, the production team decided to cut out his scenes wherever possible. His participation in the March 13 filming session was a particular concern, as at that time, his agency had assured the team that they would release a statement regarding the controversy in the following week. However, given the situation’s escalation, MBC made the decision not to air any of his individual segments from that recording session
The network emphasized that while this situation has posed challenges for the production team, their priority remains upholding the show’s credibility and ensuring a comfortable viewing experience for their audience. They further apologized for any disruption caused and assured viewers that they were making every possible effort to continue delivering high-quality content
The Impact on ‘Good Day’ and MBC’s Reputation
The decision to erase Kim Soo-hyun’s presence from Good Day is a significant move, reflecting the seriousness of the allegations and the power of public opinion in South Korea’s entertainment industry. MBC’s swift response suggests an effort to distance itself from any potential fallout while maintaining the show’s popularity.
Despite this setback, Good Day will proceed as planned, with the network restructuring its future episodes to accommodate the absence of Kim Soo-hyun. It remains to be seen whether this controversy will have lasting effects on the show’s viewership or if MBC will make further adjustments in response to public sentiment
