Yang Sang-guk is facing severe criticism after his appearance on the variety show Amazing Saturday sparked accusations of rude behavior, excessive aggression and repeatedly crossing the line for entertainment.
What was supposed to be a lighthearted guest appearance quickly turned into one of the most controversial Korean variety moments of the week.
On the May 9 broadcast of the tvN program, Yang Sang Guk appeared alongside Kim Hae-jun and Na Boram as part of the “Romantic Couple” universe popularized through Kim Hae Jun’s YouTube content.
However, from the beginning of the episode, Yang Sang Guk appeared unwilling to participate in the comedy setup created by the other cast members. While Kim Hae Jun attempted to maintain the fictional “worldview” of their characters, Yang repeatedly dismissed the roleplay and bluntly stated, “I don’t watch ‘Romantic Couple.’”
Kim Hae Jun visibly struggled to recover the atmosphere and jokingly remarked, “This is becoming difficult.”
As the episode continued, viewers felt Yang Sang Guk’s behavior became increasingly uncomfortable. During games, he aggressively argued over rules, insisted on penalties that did not exist and continuously interrupted attempts by fellow cast members to steer the show back into comedy.
One particularly criticized moment came when Kim Hae Jun tried to continue the character roleplay by jokingly threatening, “Should I take off my watch?” — a classic Korean variety setup implying fake confrontation.
Instead of playing along, Yang Sang Guk reportedly responded with hostile gestures and remarks such as “Go ahead,” while mimicking physical aggression. At another moment, he even performed a kicking motion toward Kim Hae Jun during an argument segment.
Although the actions were likely intended as exaggerated comedy, many viewers felt the tone crossed into genuinely unpleasant territory rather than entertaining banter.
The situation became even more awkward when Yang repeatedly rejected attempts by Kim Hae Jun to continue the fictional scenario, eventually shouting things such as “Hit me then. The whole broadcasting station is filming this. Let’s go to the police station.”
Kim Hae Jun later openly expressed frustration during the show, telling Yang: “If you keep going like this, people will get tired of it.”
Viewer reactions after the broadcast were overwhelmingly negative. Online comments criticized Yang Sang Guk for displaying an overly aggressive attitude and creating tension rather than humor.
Some viewers even described him as one of the “worst guests” to appear on the program.
The controversy grew larger because this is not the first time Yang Sang Guk has faced criticism for similar behavior.
Previously, during an appearance on the YouTube show Pinggyego, the comedian sparked backlash after making controversial comments about relationships and arguing directly with Yoo Jae-suk on-air.
At the time, Yang even jokingly warned Yoo Jae Suk, “One more comment and I’ll scold you,” which many viewers considered disrespectful.
More recently, he was also criticized during his appearance on Lovers of Joseon after reacting emotionally and negatively when receiving a low matchmaking score from a marriage agency.
The repeated incidents have now led many Korean netizens to revisit earlier moments from Yang Sang Guk’s career, with some arguing that his controversial attitude is becoming a consistent pattern rather than isolated mistakes.
Ironically, Yang Sang Guk recently spoke on You Quiz on the Block about struggling to secure repeated casting opportunities from variety show producers, jokingly asking PDs to “trust him more” and invite him back multiple times instead of only once.
Following the latest controversy, many viewers are now commenting that they finally understand why producers may hesitate to cast him again.
Once praised through his viral “Kimhae Prince” character and rising popularity on programs like Hangout with Yoo, Yang Sang Guk appeared to be approaching a second career peak. However, critics now believe his repeated “line-crossing” behavior may be damaging that momentum before it fully materializes.
Sources: 네이트 뉴스