Kim Shin-young's remarks on virtual idol Playbe on MBC FM4U's 'Hope Song at Noon with Kim Shin-young' have sparked controversy. We've compiled the process that led to her public apology and the reactions of fans.

1. Kim Shin-young, controversy over disparaging Playbe… What did she say?
On February 16th, DJ Kim Shin-young was embroiled in controversy with her comments regarding virtual idol PLAVE on MBC FM4U's Noon Song of Hope, This is Kim Shin-young.

If you look at the controversial statement,
📌 “I couldn’t adapt.”
📌 “Honestly, I can’t appear on our broadcast. I think I’ll get really depressed.”
📌 “I can’t see it, so where are you looking?”

When he spoke like this, he showed a reaction that it was difficult to accept a YouTuber idol. On the broadcast, he joked around with the guest Hangju about Playbe's concept, but some fans expressed their discomfort, saying, "Isn't this mocking?"

In fact, Playb has appeared on many radio shows with Park Myung-soo, Yoo In-na, and Wendy, and the group already has a lot of public recognition, so I think the controversy grew even bigger.

2. Fan reactions were divided into two.

👉 “That’s rude.”

Although Playb is a virtual idol, it is a team recognized for their skills and efforts, so the attitude of denying their existence is problematic.
“You’re not inviting guests on a broadcast, so aren’t you targeting a team that’s just sitting there?”

👉 “Could that be possible?”

The concept of virtual idols may be unfamiliar, and it may simply be a personal opinion.
“I was a little surprised, but is it really necessary to see it as mockery?”

However, overall, there were many reactions that Kim Shin-young should have been careful with her remarks since they were made on a public broadcast.

3. Kim Shin-young finally makes a public apology
As the controversy grew, Kim Shin-young personally apologized on the opening of Hope Song at Noon on the following day, February 17th.

Summary of Kim Shin-young's apology

“I humbly accept the opinion that it was not fair and objective.”
“I sincerely apologize to Playb and the fans.”
“I failed to read the flow of the times. I think it’s true that I was not only ignorant but also extremely rude.”
“I realized once again the weight of my words as a DJ. I will be more careful in the future.”

This could be seen as a fairly quick and sincere apology, but fans' reactions are still divided.

4. How will things go after the controversy?

Although an apology has been made, some fans are still uncomfortable, pointing out that "this was not a simple mistake, but a problem that arose from a basic lack of awareness of YouTubers." On the other hand, there are also those who say that since the apology was quickly acknowledged, there is no need to make a fuss about it further.

💡 What will be important going forward?

What kind of attitude will Kim Shin-young show in future broadcasts?
Will there be any additional statements or broadcast comments regarding Play?
Will this controversy lead to a change in the public's perception of virtual idols?

As new cultures such as YouTubers and AI idols emerge, there will likely be more clashes with the traditional entertainment industry in the future. This controversy is likely to be one such example.

What do you guys think?
Was Kim Shin-young's comment simply a surprise, or was it due to prejudice against virtual idols?

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