15 Year Old 'I Am a Model' Star, Park Seo Jin Scandal
Sandra Winn — January 7, 2009 — Pop Culture
References: allkpop
The MNET reality series ‘I Am a Model’ has managed to cause controversy among Korean viewers over winner Park Seo Jin’s semi-nude photos: Jin is only fifteen years old.
The semi-nude photos of Park Seo Jin, with her long hair or water covering her breasts, have caused people to question whether MNET’s ‘I Am a Model’ series is appropriate for underage models. The other area of concern is that in some of Jin’s ‘sexy’ photos, she was posing half-naked with a handsome young man. Cable and internet television shows do not have the same restrictions as regular TV; everyone is aware of this, including Park Seo Jin and presumably her parents.
Personally, I don’t think ‘I Am Model’ is to blame for the Park Seo Jin controversy. The series is in its fourth year, and nude and partially nude photoshoots are the norm. As stated in the excerpt below, most of their models are twenty and older. In my humble opinion, the responsibility should fall on Jin and her parents. It’s also worthy of note that Jin was already an up and coming singer and in video star before she entered into the ‘I Am Model’ reality series.
Now that news of Park Seo Jin’s partially nude photos have hit the internet, you can bet that the controversy will flood over into other countries. We Americans love to make moral judgments; this could end up being as controversial as the photos of Miley Cyrus taken by Annie Leibowitz for ‘Vanity Fair.’
The semi-nude photos of Park Seo Jin, with her long hair or water covering her breasts, have caused people to question whether MNET’s ‘I Am a Model’ series is appropriate for underage models. The other area of concern is that in some of Jin’s ‘sexy’ photos, she was posing half-naked with a handsome young man. Cable and internet television shows do not have the same restrictions as regular TV; everyone is aware of this, including Park Seo Jin and presumably her parents.
Personally, I don’t think ‘I Am Model’ is to blame for the Park Seo Jin controversy. The series is in its fourth year, and nude and partially nude photoshoots are the norm. As stated in the excerpt below, most of their models are twenty and older. In my humble opinion, the responsibility should fall on Jin and her parents. It’s also worthy of note that Jin was already an up and coming singer and in video star before she entered into the ‘I Am Model’ reality series.
Now that news of Park Seo Jin’s partially nude photos have hit the internet, you can bet that the controversy will flood over into other countries. We Americans love to make moral judgments; this could end up being as controversial as the photos of Miley Cyrus taken by Annie Leibowitz for ‘Vanity Fair.’
Trend Themes
1. Reality TV Controversies - The scandal surrounding Park Seo Jin's semi-nude photos in the reality show 'I Am a Model' highlights the need for stricter regulations and ethical guidelines in reality TV programming for underage participants.
2. Age Appropriateness in Entertainment - The Park Seo Jin scandal raises concerns about the responsibility of parents and producers in ensuring that entertainment content and opportunities are suitable and safe for underage individuals.
3. Cross-cultural Moral Concerns - The international dissemination of the Park Seo Jin controversy emphasizes the cultural differences and moral judgments that can arise when controversial content from one country enters another, presenting opportunities for global discussions on ethical boundaries in media.
Industry Implications
1. Reality TV Production - The controversy surrounding Park Seo Jin highlights the potential for innovation in developing ethical guidelines and age verification protocols for reality TV production companies to ensure the protection and appropriate treatment of underage participants.
2. Entertainment & Media - The Park Seo Jin scandal prompts the need for the entertainment industry to reevaluate standards and content oversight to prevent exploitative situations involving underage individuals in various forms of media.
3. Cultural Exchange & Content Localization - The international spread of the Park Seo Jin controversy presents an opportunity for the media industry to explore strategies for respectful cultural exchange, content adaptation, and local regulations to address cross-cultural sensitivities and moral concerns.
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