“Project 7” is a collaboration between SLL, Studio Slam and YG Plus, aiming to support a debut lineup under a jointly established label. However, given that JTBC’s previous idol audition shows recorded ratings in the 0% range, expectations are low. Furthermore, Ryan Jhun, who previously faced criticism for sexual harassment remarks, has been brought back as a director, fueling more backlash.
“Project 7”, which premieres on Oct 18th, is an idol audition program where viewers directly select participants for each round from the first vote, forming new teams and fostering the growth of their favorite participants. The show seeks to differentiate itself by introducing concepts of “assembly” and “reinforcement”.
While buzz and fan engagement are typically more important than ratings for audition programs, ratings cannot be entirely disregarded. In that regard, JTBC’s audition shows have not performed well.
For example, “Girls on Fire”, which concluded in June, was Korea’s first female vocal group formation project. The top five finalists were Yang Irae, Lee Nayoung, Lee Sooyoung, Hwang Seyoung and Kang Yoonjung. Although they were expected to be active after the show, no music activity plans have been announced to date. The program itself also suffered from the humiliation of 0% ratings across all 11 episodes.
Similarly, “Peak Time”, which aired in 2021, ended with disgraceful 0% ratings and weak fan engagement. The group VANNER won the competition with a final vote count of 293,219, which is notably low for an idol audition program, highlighting the lack of public interest.
Additionally, “Peak Time” faced controversy over the qualifications of its judges. Producer Ryan Jhun, who had previously made sexually inappropriate remarks about female idols, became the center of this controversy. At the time, it was revealed that Ryan Jhun had used derogatory terms to sexually harass female idols in an online gallery, leading to widespread criticism.
When the controversy grew, Ryan Jhun offered an apology, saying, “If I knowingly used the word, then it was intentional, and you can criticize me. I didn’t know the word. I’m just saying I didn’t know. If you were offended, I’m sorry.” However, his informal apology only sparked more backlash. Many argued that he was unqualified to serve as a judge for an idol audition program.
Despite being aware of this public perception, JTBC has cast Ryan Jhun as a director for “Project 7” once again. Ryan Jhun emphasized his dedication to the project, “While working on ‘Project 7’, I’ve been learning and growing. I’ve become emotionally invested, and as a person, I’ve even shed tears. I’m not being coercive as a director; I’m working together with everyone.”
It seems JTBC believes that Ryan Jhun’s apology was sufficient to resolve the controversy. Despite promises of an unprecedented scale and rich content, the future of “Project 7” already appears uncertain.
Source: Daum
