Comedian and host Jeon Hyun-moo, 48, has issued a heartfelt apology after referring to the sudden death of a fallen police officer as ‘kkalpang’ during a recent TV broadcast. The incident occurred on DJ Zinaple’s survival program Unmyeong Jeonjang 49, where celebrities tackle missions to uncover causes of death.
Details of the Controversial Moment
The episode featured participants, including shamans, psychology students, tarot readers, and agency workers, investigating the circumstances surrounding the officer’s line-of-duty death. Despite the heavy atmosphere at the death site, Jeon entered the room and remarked, ‘It’s kkalpang,’ using the slang term for a sudden or shocking demise. He added, ‘Don’t be surprised since it’s kkalpang.’
Panelist Shin Dong-yup responded positively, laughing and saying, ‘(Kkalpang) was a good word,’ while another musician noted the tense mood beforehand.
Agency’s Official Response
On the 23rd, Jeon Hyun-moo’s agency, SM C&C, released a statement expressing deep remorse. ‘We sincerely apologize to the bereaved family and employees for the harm caused by this expression during the broadcast. Regardless of intentions, we should have exercised greater caution in conveying the facts,’ the agency stated.
The statement continued, ‘We failed to accurately grasp some details in organizing the episode and could not scrutinize the appropriateness of the phrasing. As a result, our employees faced unpredictable damage.’
Jeon’s Personal Apology
Jeon himself conveyed sincere regret, stating, ‘I apologize to the employees and bereaved family with utmost sincerity. I feel heartbroken for those hurt by the director’s dissatisfaction over the mishandling of the scene.’
He added, ‘I will internalize this grave responsibility, reflect deeply within our organization, and be more careful moving forward.’
Criticism from Police Community
The National Police Officers’ Workplace Council (Police Job Coop) condemned the remark in a statement today. ‘Trivializing the sudden passing of a dedicated public servant as ‘kkalpang’ is unacceptable. This fuels deep resentment and misunderstanding among fallen officers and active personnel.’
