The controversy surrounding the use of the Gyeongsang dialect phrase "Museopno" by Won-i, a member of the girl group Risen from Geoje, has escalated to the political arena. Online, there has been a surge of criticism and satire directed at the current broadcasting PD who initially raised the issue.
On July 5, various online communities and social media platforms were flooded with posts mocking the so-called "Museopno" controversy.
Netizens reacted with comments such as, "Is A Pink's 'Don't Be Sad No No No' also Ilbe?" and "If they hear 'Wagurano' from Kang San-e, they might faint," along with, "Is Curtis, who shouts 'Red Red,' also far-right?" and "If I say 'I like you,' am I a racist?" Others added, "Is Chef Yoon Nam-no an Ilbe member every time he says his name?"
Some users expressed, "There are too many people uncomfortable with strange things," and "All controversies are created by a loud minority with distorted beliefs," while others remarked, "Isn't it a theory that everything is connected to Ilbe?" and "They seem to love Ilbe the most themselves."
The controversy soon caught the attention of lawmakers.
Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk stated on Facebook on July 5, "There are people who defend the use of 'no' at the end of sentences by Ilbe to mock President Roh Moo-hyun, claiming it is used in Busan and Yeongnam as well." He explained, "In my observation, Ilbe mechanically attaches 'no' to standard language. In Yeongnam dialect, 'na' and 'no' are used distinctly. 'Na' is used to confirm yes or no, while 'no' is used to request specific explanations."
In response, Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform Party, also shared his thoughts on social media the same day.
Lee stated, "They are trying to verify ideologies based on a single word. An idol from Geoje saying 'Museopno' in her hometown dialect has been branded as Ilbe." He emphasized, "Linguists explain that the '-no' ending in Southeast dialects is widely used not only in questions but also in exclamations and monologues, yet the stigmatization continues."
The controversy began when a PD from Gyeongnam MBC, known to be from Busan, posted on social media on July 1, criticizing the use of the '~no' expression by Risen's Won-i in broadcasts and YouTube content.
He wrote, "I was very upset to see a female idol and a PD exchanging '~no' in a well-received YouTube clip."
As the post spread, online backlash ensued, with comments like, "Is there a problem with someone from Geoje using their hometown dialect?" and "Are they trying to censor dialects now?"
As the controversy grew, a professor from Dong-A University’s Korean Language Institute was also revisited for their explanation. The professor had previously noted that the '-no' ending in Southeast dialects is used in both questions and exclamations, suggesting that Won-i's expression falls within the dialect category.
However, the PD later maintained his stance in a lengthy post, stating, "Many speakers and researchers of Gyeongsang dialect have pointed out that the current use of '~no' is not grammatically correct," and added, "As hate speech becomes a game, the Gyeongsang dialect itself is becoming polluted."
He also argued, "I am also from Gyeongsang, but if there are people who are hurt, we need to reconsider the use of '~no.'"
Despite these claims, public opinion did not wane, prompting the PD to issue an additional statement on July 3. He remarked, "I have reaffirmed that social media is not a suitable space for discussion," and noted, "Just as it took a long time to eliminate remnants of the Japanese language, this issue will also require time."
He reiterated, "Rather than distinguishing which '~no' is being used, if there are people who are hurt by the word, I ask that you reconsider its use."
However, even after this clarification, public sentiment remained largely unchanged. Netizens continued to respond, saying, "It’s more absurd to tell people who use dialects to change their speech," and "It’s excessive to treat an idol from Gyeongsang as Ilbe," while others commented, "We have entered an era where we judge political leanings based on a single word," and "Ultimately, the one who escalated the controversy is the PD himself."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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