A fierce online debate has erupted after a broadcasting producer criticized RESCENE member Woni, who is from Geoje, for naturally using the Gyeongsang Province dialect suffix "~no" in broadcast and YouTube content.
A Gyeongnam MBC producer, reportedly from Busan, posted on social media on July 1, saying, "I watched a well-received YouTube clip, and I was very upset to see a female idol and a PD amicably exchanging the '~no' suffix."
As the post spread, immediate rebuttals poured in online. Many users argued that Woni was simply using her hometown dialect, with comments such as, "She is from Geoje and just used her regional dialect, so why is it a problem?," "People in Gyeongsang Province naturally speak that way," and "Are you trying to censor dialect now?"
On the other hand, some users partially agreed with the producer’s claim, saying that the use of "~no" online has, in some contexts, been associated with slang originating from far-right online communities, and that dialect and internet slang should be distinguished.
Amid the controversy, past remarks by a professor from Dong-A University’s Korean Language and Culture Institute were also revisited. The professor previously explained that the Gyeongsang Province dialect ending "-no" is used not only in interrogative sentences but also in exclamatory and declarative forms, reinforcing the argument that Woni’s usage falls within the scope of the dialect.
Despite the backlash, the producer, identified by the surname Kim, stood his ground in a follow-up post, stating that many Gyeongsang dialect speakers and researchers have noted the current use of "~no" does not align with grammatical norms. He added that the dialect itself is being distorted as expressions associated with online hate communities become normalized.
He also stated that, as a native of the region, people should reconsider using "~no" if it could cause discomfort to others.
However, the follow-up statement also failed to ease criticism. On July 3, he posted another update on social media, saying, "SNS was not an appropriate space for discussion." He reiterated that, just as it took a long time to remove remnants of the Japanese language, this issue would also require time to resolve, adding that people should consider whether the expression could hurt others before using it, rather than distinguishing between different uses of "~no."
Public opinion, however, remained largely unchanged.
A satirical "translation" of his statement also circulated online, interpreting his remarks as: "I didn’t expect to be criticized this much for speaking up," "I just want people to eventually agree that I’m right," and "Even if it is a normal dialect, everyone should adjust if someone feels uncomfortable."
Netizens reacted critically, saying things such as, "It’s strange to tell people not to use their dialect," "How can someone from Gyeongsang Province argue against the Gyeongsang dialect?," "It seems he is forcing his personal view," and "He has brought accusations of dialect censorship upon himself."
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