The complacency of ‘Physical 100’ made Woo Jin-yong and Jung Hae-min victims.

It is true that the game was stopped, but there was no intentional manipulation. There was an accident, but it wasn't for anyone's special benefit. The production team of the Netflix series 'Physical: 100' took the extreme step of releasing the original video as the truth battle over the manipulation of the finals grew out of control. Do you understand the production team's unfair situation, but how can you compensate for the damage and wounds that the cast suffered due to their immature response?

On the morning of the 9th, an emergency meeting regarding the final issue of Netflix's entertainment show 'Physical: 100' was held at MBC Golden Mouse Hall in Sangam-dong, Seoul. CP Kim Young-ki and PD Jang Ho-gi attended this event.

'Physical 100', which gained immense popularity by becoming the first Korean entertainment show to rank first on Netflix TV, ended on the 1st with former snowboarder and CrossFit athlete Woo Jin-yong winning the championship after a fierce battle with current bicycle racer Jeong Hae-min.

The problem arose after the show ended. After the winner was announced, the finals were held several times due to equipment problems, raising suspicions that the winner was changed. Jung Hae-min, who took second place, caused a stir by revealing in an interview with a media outlet that the production team intervened in the finals and rematches were held twice, and that one of the two times was stopped by Woo Jin-yong raising his hand.

In response, the production team released the timeline and claimed that there was no manipulation. Woo Jin-yong also emphasized that he never raised his hand to stop a game, and both times it was an audio problem. Jung Hae-min also did not back down.

Finally, on the 9th, the production team had an opportunity to release and explain the original video. Regarding the reason for only showing the video rather than releasing it as a file and only releasing the relevant portion, PD Jang Ho-gi said, "Due to the nature of Netflix originals, all copyrights are owned by Netflix, and strict regulations are applied. Also, there is another issue that is different from the essence of the problem. “Due to concerns about the problem spreading, leaks of personal conversations between the actors, and the sheer volume of the issue,” he explained.

Looking at the original video released by the production team, Jung Hae-min's claim that 'Woo Jin-yong first raised his hand and claimed a machine defect and stopped the game' was not true. Shortly after the game started, there was a loud noise, and about 13 minutes later, the production team stopped the game.

Regarding this, PD Jang Ho-gi said, "As the two ropes turned, a huge friction noise occurred. This was a situation that was not audible at all during the simulation. We tried not to interrupt the flow of the game, but we decided that it would be difficult to use the filmed version because the noise was so serious. “Also, if the rope shaft were torn and thrown off, the performer could suffer serious injuries, so we had no choice but to stop it to prevent a safety accident.” Afterwards, action was taken with a rust removal spray called WD, and the game resumed after checking the shaft and holes where the rope was stuck.

The second reason for the suspension was due to a twisted line in Woo Jin-yong’s pulley. Woo Jin-yong's pulley turned and became knotted and stopped moving. Recognizing this, the production team decided that it was not a fair fight and urgently blew the whistle to stop it.

Afterwards, the production team decided to resume on the same day under agreement with the two players, Woo Jin-yong and Jeong Hae-min. The production team expressed the idea of resuming the game a few days later, but Jung Hae-min, who judged that he was ahead, first requested a resumption on the same day. And Woo Jin-yong also said he allowed it.

In the end, the two game suspensions were true. However, the production team did not intentionally intervene because Woo Jin-yong wanted it. It was an equipment problem. In the end, no matter how many simulations were run, the production team's inexperience in the preparation process created the problem.

From Jung Hae-min's perspective, he was ahead, but he couldn't have been happy with the continued suspension of the game. The production team, who should have clearly explained the self-inflicted designation, was so rude at the time, so Jeong Hae-min's distrust of the production team was bound to grow. Woo Jin-yong also lost the honor of being the winner because he was framed as being on the same side as the production team, even though he never stopped the game.

The problem is that even though the game was stopped twice, it was broadcast as if nothing had happened. Even though ‘Physical 100’ is an entertainment show rather than a sport, it is true that the series of situations must be explained. However, the production team hid this, and this eventually became the starting point of the manipulation controversy.

“It would have been nice to transparently show that a broadcasting accident occurred, but we decided that such matters would not be easy at the time. This is the responsibility of our production team.”

Even if the game was not manipulated, this is clearly broadcast manipulation. Didn't 'Girls Who Hit Goal' also receive criticism for not showing the game as it was and editing it for a dramatic effect? As the two streams were cut off, the players were exhausted and the production crew was embarrassed. Viewers who did not know this could not understand the pain of Jung Hae-min and Woo Jin-yong.

In the end, the production crew's silence encouraged the actors to fight. Will the cast respond to the production team's appeal, saying, "I don't want it to turn into a truth battle or a confrontational situation," and "I hope we can meet and talk now." Although there was no manipulation, this is a situation that leaves an uneasy feeling somewhere.

Taeyuna, Ten Asia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr