1. Introduction to the text
This article discusses the rumor culture in the entertainment industry in the 1980s and 1990s, as described by TV personality Shin Dong-yeop. He talks about how unverified rumors were easily spread and accepted as truth, particularly regarding the popular entertainer Kang Ho-dong.
2. Vocabulary
| Korean Word | Romanization | English Meaning | Contextual Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 여배우 | yeobaewo | female actress | He asked the female actress if she had heard the ridiculous rumors. |
| 루머 | rumeo | rumor | The rumors about Kang Ho-dong were very strange and unsubstantiated. |
| 피해 | pihae | damage, harm | The female actress said she was really suffering from the harmful rumors. |
| 당시 | dangsi | at that time | At that time, there was no way to verify the truth of the rumors. |
| 전했다 | jeonhaetta | conveyed, reported | Shin Dong-yeop conveyed the story of asking the female actress about the rumors. |
3. The main text in both Korean and English
신동엽은 “인터넷이 없는 시절이라 사실 여부를 확인할 수 있는 방법이 없었다. 그래서 입에서 입으로 도는 소문이 훨씬 더 무서웠다”고 말했다.
Shin Dong-yeop said that in the days before the internet, there was no way to verify the facts, so the rumors that spread by word of mouth were much more terrifying.
그는 “(특히) 호동이가 이상한 소문이 너무 많았다. 사실이 아닌데도 ‘강호동’이라는 이미지 때문에 사람들이 ‘왠지 그럴 것 같다’며 진실처럼 받아들였다”고 전했다.
He said that Kang Ho-dong had too many strange rumors about him, and even though they were not true, people accepted them as fact because of Kang’s image.
신동엽은 과거 인기 예능 프로그램 ‘쟁반 노래방’ 촬영 당시 그 여배우에게 직접 조심스레 물었던 일화도 들려줬다.
Shin Dong-yeop also shared a story about how he carefully asked a female actress about the rumors during the filming of the popular entertainment program “Jjaengban Noraebang.”
그는 “혹시 말도 안 되는 루머가 도는 거 아시냐고 물었더니, 그분이 ‘정말 죽겠다’고 답했다”고 전했다.
He said that when he asked the actress if she had heard the ridiculous rumors, she replied, “I’m really suffering.”
이처럼 당시 연예계에는 검증되지 않은 소문이 쉽게 퍼져나갔고, 이는 연예인들에게 큰 피해를 줬다.
In this way, unverified rumors easily spread in the entertainment industry at the time, causing great harm to celebrities.
이번 대화를 통해 과거 연예계의 열악한 환경과 소문 문화의 폐해를 엿볼 수 있었다.
Through this conversation, we can glimpse the poor environment and the harmful effects of the rumor culture in the entertainment industry in the past.
4. Reading comprehension questions
- What was the main reason why unverified rumors spread so easily in the entertainment industry before the internet era?
- How did Kang Ho-dong’s image contribute to the acceptance of the strange rumors about him?
- What was Shin Dong-yeop’s experience in asking a female actress about the rumors she was facing?
- How did the female actress respond when Shin Dong-yeop asked her about the rumors?
- What were the harmful effects of the unverified rumors on entertainers at that time?
5. Cultural and historical notes
This article provides insight into the rumor culture that was prevalent in the Korean entertainment industry in the 1980s and 1990s, before the widespread use of the internet. Without easy access to information verification, unsubstantiated rumors could easily spread and be accepted as truth, causing significant damage to the reputations and well-being of celebrities. This highlights the importance of media accountability and the need for fact-checking, especially in an industry where public perception can make or break a career.