Comedian-turned-actor Maeng Seung-ji revealed a message he received through social media.An anonymous account approached him, saying, “VIP client is interested in you.” He introduced himself as a “custom sponsorship connection agency” and offered a specific amount and conditions.

On the surface, it seems like a polite business proposal, but Maeng Seung-ji publicly expressed his displeasure, saying, “There are a lot of strange people.Please refrain from doing so.” It was a kind of “sponsorship proposal.” Fans who saw this said, “This is an act that crossed the line,” and cheered Maeng Seung-ji on.

This is not the first time this has happened.Maeng Seung-ji received a similar message in 2022, and he also revealed it himself at that time.The problem is that these proposals are not one-time happenings.

● Digital brokers who approach through DM
In the past, there were also ‘black offers’ from sponsors.Most sponsor offers were made through offline contacts through ‘brokers’.If offers were made through industry insiders, staff, and even insiders of the agency, the situation is different now.In SNS era, brokers are no longer hiding.Rather, they actively approach celebrities directly through DM(direct message).

Like the message that Maeng Seung-ji received, the method of presenting ‘VIP customers’ or ‘private offers’ is a common tactic used both domestically and internationally.In the US, Instagram model Britney Lennon revealed that she received a high-value sponsorship offer via DM from a wealthy Middle Easterner, and some overseas YouTubers have also revealed similar experiences.

Because DM offers anonymity and immediacy, it is difficult to track and victims are more intimidated.
Some brokers disguise their identities and approach clients under the pretense of ‘inviting them to luxury events’ or ‘recruiting them for advertising.’ There have also been reports of organized cases where clients are recruited on the dark web and information on celebrities ‘SNS followings is collected to calculate the timing of their approach.

●’ Silence Proposal ‘Remains as a Structural Problem
Sponsorship offers are not just rudeness, but structural violence that seeks to consume female celebrities as sexual objects.The problem is that most people who receive such offers do not speak out and let it go.They are afraid that if they reveal it, they will be viewed negatively.

In that sense, Maeng Seung-ji’s public statement can be seen as an opportunity to shed light on the problem of digital sexual harassment that is rampant in the entertainment industry, beyond sharing personal experiences.Jang Ye-ri, a former member of Girl’s Day, also made headlines when she revealed that she had received a proposal from a famous entertainment agency CEO asking her to be her girlfriend.

Overseas actors’ union SAG -AFTRA has already established guidelines to prevent online sexual harassment and unethical suggestions.In Korea, it is time to change the focus on the victim rather than the proposer.
The problem is not the exposure, but the silence.And taking advantage of that silence, dark DMs are probably being sent to someone right now.


Reporter Yang com -mo hmyang0307@donga

This article is automatically translated using Google AI. If you notice any inaccuracies, please let us know at allkstar@donga.com.