"Don't Watch If Uncomfortable" vs "Military Porn" 'Fake Men 2' Sadism Controversy

YouTube 'Ggaksanai 2' Abuse Controversy
Criticism for Pushing Trainees to Fainting and Using Profanity
Some Viewers Say "Impressive to Overcome Extreme Situations"
Others Point Out "Harsh Treatment Should Not Occur During Training"
Producers Apologize "Sorry If Rough Behavior Caused Discomfort"

Photo by Fake Men Capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] The YouTube content 'Gajja Sanai 2' has become embroiled in controversy over sadistic elements. 'Gajja Sanai' is a video content parodying a terrestrial TV program called 'Jinjja Sanai,' featuring internet broadcasters experiencing and overcoming the training course of the Navy Special Warfare Group. The depiction of overcoming human limits through grueling training has sparked significant attention.

Currently, 'Gajja Sanai 2' features numerous celebrities enduring extreme training, including short track speed skater Kwak Yoon-gi, actor Julien Kang, and former soccer player Kim Byung-ji. Demonstrating its immense popularity, over 20 major corporations have sponsored the program. Additionally, it is scheduled to be screened in 4DX at about 100 CGV theaters nationwide in mid-November.

The issue lies in the sadistic controversy. During the intense training process, one trainee was pushed to the brink of fainting, and trainees who failed to properly follow instructors' orders were subjected to harsh verbal abuse and personal insults.

While some viewers enjoy the process itself, others express discomfort with the dehumanizing treatment. Some also argue that the sensationalism and violence are unique appeals of YouTube content, unlike terrestrial TV programs that require discharge.

Appearance of a cast member who reached the verge of fainting during training in 'Fake Men' Season 2

Positive evaluations mainly arise from scenes showing overcoming extreme situations. One trainee breaks down in tears when his thigh becomes numb from hypothermia during training. The instructor approaches and commands, "When the sun rises, it will get warm. Crawl forward if you have to."

Viewers who saw the instructor relentlessly pushing the trainee despite his tears commented positively, saying, "Honestly, I think I gave up a lot in situations like that," "I will recall that scene when things get tough," and "It feels like he is talking to me."

A job seeker in their 20s said they received much comfort from that scene. Kim, a person in their 20s, said, "The only reason I watch Gajja Sanai, including myself, is one thing: I find great comfort watching people overcome hardships and train."

Another person in their 20s, Lee, emphasized, "Watching Gajja Sanai actually clears my complicated mind. I gain great strength from seeing people take one step at a time toward their goals despite difficulties."

On the other hand, some find it uncomfortable to watch. Kim, a 30-something office worker who identified as a military veteran, said, "Honestly, it’s not much different from the military," adding, "The verbal abuse doesn’t seem like cruel treatment. The military teaches you to overcome yourself even when it’s tough, but it doesn’t seem appropriate to overcome yourself through training that is close to sadism."

Photo by 'Ggaksanai1' YouTube capture

Meanwhile, a discharged special forces veteran also expressed discomfort. Park said, "The reason for the verbal abuse is that if trainees don’t stay alert during training, it can lead to serious accidents," but criticized, "The problem is the level of personal insults. The relentless pressure actually makes it impossible to focus. Proper training requires mentally internalizing the process and moving accordingly." He added, "Isn’t this just military porn?"

Amid the spreading sadistic controversy, the production team issued an apology. The 'Gajja Sanai' series, which has faced ongoing criticism for violence, was criticized for insulting portrayals of cast members in the 'Gajja Sanai 2' video uploaded on the afternoon of the 11th.

Immediately after the video upload, the YouTube channel 'Physical Gallery' production team explained, "Due to trainee Yoon-gi’s mistakes during training, some dangerous scenes were produced, and anticipating harsh criticism from malicious commenters, we removed many of those parts. As a result, scenes where instructors strongly reprimand Yoon-gi’s dangerous actions were edited to appear one-sided." They added, "Understanding the edited content is necessary to grasp the context, so it was entirely an editorial misjudgment."

Regarding remarks such as "Are you crazy?" directed at comedian Son Min-su, another cast member showing determination to complete the training, and scenes where two cast members were pinned under a training boat while an instructor pressed down with his hand, the team said, "Strong pressure from instructors during special processes was a necessary part. The training was conducted under safety control, but we sincerely apologize if the rough behavior caused discomfort."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.