Singer Lee Ji-hye [Newsis]
Singer Lee Ji-hye [Newsis]

Broadcaster Lee Ji-hye visited the Korean Folk Village's so-called "ghost discipline" program — which has drawn child abuse allegations — with her two daughters, and her younger daughter broke down in tears, promising to bathe regularly and keep up with her homework.

A video titled "Why did Lee Ji-hye's daughter sob at the Korean Folk Village she visited to fix her habits? (Eoduksini, ghost)" was posted Monday on the YouTube channel "Mipjianheun Gwanjong Eonni."

In the video, Lee visited the Korean Folk Village with her two daughters to try the ghost experience program that recently went viral on social media under the nickname "the dark Oh Eun-young" — a reference to a well-known child development expert.

"It's been so hot on social media as 'the dark Oh Eun-young,'" Lee said. "People say it fixes kids' behavior in one shot, so I came to see for myself."

Lee added that the program had sparked debate. "There are opinions for and against this kind of discipline. I'm not sure about causing trauma, but I thought, let them have a taste of it," she said.

Lee then shared concerns about her younger daughter Ellie's habits with the ghost character known as Eoduksini. "The problem is she doesn't like washing up and tries to avoid taking baths," Lee said.

Eoduksini responded by trying to frighten the child. "We ghosts are friends with germs. If you don't wash your body, wash your hair or brush your teeth, the germs inside you will say, 'Ghost, come take me away quickly.' And I will come for you," the character said.

Ellie cried out, "I don't want to go. No. I'm scared," and burst into tears. She then promised through her sobs to take baths and do her homework properly.

After the experience, Lee said the program seemed to make children behave for a while, but added, "Seeing her cry made me feel sorry for her."

Meanwhile, the Korean Folk Village's "ghost discipline" program has recently been caught up in child abuse allegations.

The program features an actor in ghost costume who, at a parent's request, scolds a child for bad habits and tries to frighten them into changing. It gained wide attention on social media under the "dark Oh Eun-young" nickname, but critics have raised concerns that deliberately frightening a child could constitute emotional abuse.

Complaints calling for the program to be suspended have been filed, and the city of Yongin, which has jurisdiction over the area, said it would conduct an on-site inspection together with child welfare experts and police.

In response, the Korean Folk Village said the experience is conducted only with a guardian's consent and that it stops immediately if a child shows strong signs of distress.


husn7@heraldcorp.com