Netizens ask if SNL Korea crossed the line with joke about the attempted assassination of Democratic Party leader Lee Jae Myung

Netizens are reacting to a controversial 'SNL Korea' skit.

On an online forum, discussions arose about a past SNL Korea skit featuring former South Korean Prime Minister Kim Boo Kyum, which aired in April of this year. The skit, designed as a parody of a news interview, featured two anchors humorously questioning Kim in a comedic format.

As part of the parody, the anchors asked questions comparing the Democratic Party to a K-pop male idol group, leading to humorous prompts like "Who is the center?" and "Who is the visual member?"

However, the segment sparked significant backlash when it delved into a more serious topic. One of the questions asked Kim to identify which act caused the most "damage" to the respective parties' approval ratings, presenting two controversial options: "People Power Party's Former Defense Minister Lee Jong Seop’s ‘Australia Run’" and "Lee Jae Myung’s ‘Helicopter Run’ from a Busan hospital to a Seoul hospital."

The term "Australia Run" refers to former Defense Minister Lee Jong Seop’s departure to Australia to assume the role of South Korean Ambassador amid allegations of external pressure in the investigation of Marine Corps Corporal Chae Mo Sang’s death. Critics in the opposition accused him of fleeing the country.

On the other hand, "Helicopter Run" refers to the current Democratic Party leader Lee Jae Myung being airlifted to a Seoul hospital after surviving an attempted assassination during an event in Busan earlier this year.

Netizens were outraged by SNL Korea’s decision to make light of Lee’s case, considering it a grave instance of political violence.

Some commenters even suggested a potential political bias, noting that the leader of Coupang Play, the platform airing SNL Korea, is allegedly Yoon Suk Yeol’s former "judicial training institute classmate."

Looking back on this episode, especially during the week of Yoon’s impeachment, netizens expressed their frustrations:

"Look at the phrasing... 'Helicopter Run'? Did they expect him to die on the street? Being airlifted to a hospital is running away?"

"Using the term 'Helicopter Run' for someone stabbed in the neck is just wrong."

"I hate Yoon Suk Yeol, but even if he were the one attacked and airlifted, I'd think it was totally justified. How can anyone have such a devilish mindset?"

"Someone almost died, and you're calling it a 'Helicopter Run'?"

"Calling someone whose life was at risk from a terrorist attack a 'Helicopter Run' is unacceptable."

"So low."

"SNL and Coupang both just annoy me."

"And this show was the most aggressive in dragging the MZ generation."

"They seem to misunderstand Western-style dark humor completely."

"Absolutely hopeless. When will this show get canceled?"

"How can you even compare the two? Running off to Australia is on a whole other level."

"Kim Bu Kyum may be politically mild, but personally he has a temper. How must he have felt hearing such ridiculous questions?"

"SNL Korea's Production company is CP Entertainment (a subsidiary of Coupang), with the Executive producer, Ahn Sang Hwi. Several key producers, including Ahn Sang Hwi, the CP for SNL at Ace Story, moved to CP Entertainment. As a result, Ace Story filed a damages claim against Ahn and reported Coupang to the Fair Trade Commission for unfair business practices."

"Getting attacked and calling it a 'Helicopter Run'? These people are insane."

"Calling it a 'Helicopter Run'... are you out of your mind? And this was actually broadcast? Unbelievable."

"They really have no basic sense of humanity."

What are your thoughts?