The Influencer, a social survival show that aired on Netflix on August 6, 2023, featuring Korean celebrities and influencers such as Jang Geun Suk, RISABAE, Pani Bottle, Juicy Se Yeon, and more received criticism for its lack of substance. Instead of focusing on meaningful content, the show featured numerous scenes of sexualized content, particularly from the female participants.

'The Influencer' is a social survival variety show where 77 of South Korea's top influencers compete to prove their influence, which translates directly into their market value. The show had high anticipation and curiosity given the star-studded cast. However, many were disappointed with the lack of content.

In the first game, Jang Keun Suk quickly secured first place by recognizing the strategic advantage of text-based content. However, the competition took a more provocative turn when My Boo submitted a close-up photo focusing solely on a chest with the face excluded. Juicy Se Yeon added to the controversy by staging a photo that could easily be misinterpreted, casting her partner, Jun Woo, in an inappropriate light. Pyo Eun Ji also followed suit— even in photos featuring her dog, the emphasis on her chest remained a prominent feature.

In round two, participants were tasked with using their influence to garner views. Some resorted to sexually suggestive tactics. For instance, Juicy Se Yeon performed a provocative dance, resembling the controversial streams often seen on AfreecaTV. Other contestants, such as Pyo Eun Ji, presented lingerie shows disguised as lookbooks. This content led to negative responses from viewers, calling the show a mix of clickbait and overt sensationalism.

The final round served as the true test of the influencers' abilities, where the focus shifted back to their skills. After fierce competition among the final four, Oking emerged as the winner. RISABAE, who managed to reach second place without resorting to any attention-seeking tactics, reflected on her experience, stating, "Every moment was memorable. Moving forward, I will continue to be an influencer who stands by my beliefs."

Most participants resorted to extreme provocations throughout the competition, largely influenced by the production team. The games prioritized attention-grabbing stunts over the contestants' expertise and talents. Furthermore, despite the participation of YouTubers and TikTok creators, the show lacked outdoor missions and failed to incorporate popular formats like 'short-form content' even though there were three photo missions, leaving much to be desired in terms of variety and innovation.

Additionally, despite recruiting 'one-person media' influencers, the show failed to include any segment that tested their planning and editing abilities through video production. This comes across as a misjudgment or lack of competence on the part of the production and writing teams.

As a result, the show pushed all participants towards creating provocative content in a desperate attempt to capture attention quickly, relying on increasingly suggestive and sensational material.

In the end, is this the type of influencer the production team envisioned—someone who can generate attention without any real substance? With the release of all episodes on August 13, The Influencer leaves behind a bitter aftertaste.

Korean netizens commented: 

"It's even more tragic that this kind of thing actually works... Isn't the bigger problem that there are so many people consuming this content?"

"The broadcasting staff who are bringing these R-rated BJs from the dark corners of the web into the spotlight are also to blame."

"Do these parents even know their kids are doing this?"

"The world is going downhill. It's a big problem... Oh, the good old days..."

"I'm so embarrassed... Imagine how the parents must feel..."

"Does Netflix have money to burn? Even guys don't watch this cheap trash."

"Why does it look so dirty, even to men? LOL"

"The only person who benefited from this show was RISABAE. As for those who were harmed... I'd rather not say."

"RISABAE is really kind, though. After watching the show, I became a fan of hers."

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