”No malice intended”...TV series ”When the Phone Rings” staff apologizes for sign language scene

"When the Phone Rings" staff have apologized for making fun of sign language. On the 29th of last month, MBC "When the Phone Rings" staff apologized for "making fun of some of the sign language scenes."
We are sorry for the inconvenience. The staff takes seriously the criticism that the handling of sign language in "When the Phone Rings" was inappropriate, resulting in making fun of deaf people and Korean sign language.
He continued, "This TV series was planned with the main theme of 'communication' between people, and it uses sign language, an important communication tool for the deaf, as a medium."
"However, in the process of creating the work, we paid close attention to the hardships that deaf people and Korean sign language have experienced.
We humbly admit that our staff did not make enough effort to reflect this, and we will make further efforts to ensure that the same thing does not happen again."
The criticism arose in episode 1 of "When the Phone Rings" when Hong Hee-joo (Choi SOOBIN)
The scene involved the sign language used in the drama. Sign language interpreter Hong Hee-joo was interpreting the word "mountain" in "landslide" in sign language when an error occurred during broadcasting and the sign language was repeated.
In response, Na YURI (Jang Gyu Ri), who plays Sir Naeun, asks Hong Hee Joo if she is using her middle finger to insult him.
In the end, one viewer posted on the message board of "When That Phone Rings" that "hearing people should not use the means of communication for hearing-impaired people.
It is wrong to insult and belittle deaf sign language in this way," the statement said, pointing out that this was a caricature of deaf people and sign language, and the staff member apologized.
"When That Phone Rings" is a secret romance thriller about a married couple in their third year of an arranged marriage that began with a threatening phone call.