'Smoking Gun' overcame the end of the season and made it to 100 episodes in Season 2. It was the humanism, where 'people' came first, rather than scientific investigation, that served as the driving force.
A press conference for the 100th episode special of 'Smoking Gun' was held on the morning of the 23rd at KBS Hall in Yeouido, Seoul. Attendees included broadcaster Ahn Hyun-mo, Professor Yoo Sung-ho, and PD Kim Jong-seok, who discussed the 100th episode of 'Smoking Gun' under the direction of announcer Lee Ye-won.
'Smoking Gun' is a KBS current affairs program that shares vivid stories from investigators seeking to uncover hidden truths in crime scenes that cunningly evolve, akin to a smoking gun pointing to the culprit.
MC Ahn Hyun-mo noted, "We have held two press conferences online until now, but this is the first time we are holding one offline," expressing an encouraging sentiment. Professor Yoo Sung-ho also remarked, "'Smoking Gun' has already surpassed 100 episodes. I am glad that an opportunity was created for us to share and hear sincere stories related to our program. I will honestly share a lot of thoughts from my heart."
Ahn Hyun-mo and Professor Yoo Sung-ho, who have been with 'Smoking Gun' since its first broadcast on March 29, 2023, expressed their feelings more deeply. Professor Yoo shared, "I initially declined the offer because I was busy with my main job and had many things to handle. However, our PD persuaded me that this program is meaningful as it can convey the hard work of those who work in the field, rather than being just an ordinary crime program, and I decided to participate."
He continued, "Reaching 100 episodes has been possible because, among countless programs, there's a sense of 'sincerity'. Though we claim to be a crime program, I feel it has also been the comprehensive efforts of many people, including police officers, scientists, and forensic experts, that have made this possible. The curiosity of viewers who were intrigued by our program has also contributed to our reaching 100 episodes. I believe our program's strength lies in conveying knowledge and scientific content, and people like Ahn Hyun-mo, who previously worked as a reporter, play a significant role by asking timely questions to clarify viewers' inquiries."
Ahn Hyun-mo stated, "I never dreamed we would make it to 100 episodes. At first, I thought we would be disbanded, starting off with little expectation. During the break after completing Season 1, we thought the program would disappear. We held a farewell gathering, hoping we could have Season 2, and I remember being overjoyed when I heard we would begin Season 2 shortly after the break."
He added, "These days, many similar programs come and go, but I'm grateful we have reached 100 episodes. I appreciate KBS for not canceling us. I want to thank the production team for maintaining their original intention and treating each episode as if they were recording the first one."
He said, "The key to reaching 100 episodes is the casting. I would credit the casting of the other MCs, excluding myself. Professor Yoo Sung-ho is making his first regular appearance on this program. Although he has appeared in interviews or as an expert before, he felt burdened at the idea of coming to the studio every week at the same time to record something. However, I believe convincing him to join was the cornerstone of our success."
Additionally, he explained, "Whenever an event occurs, we cast those directly involved. We might cast famous celebrities or MCs who communicate well, but we focus on bringing in individuals who have handled investigations, represented victims, or those who have suffered in those incidents. I believe the hard work of our writers, who continuously cast such individuals each episode, has played a significant role in our success."
Professor Yoo Ho-seong recalled, "There are differences in crime across eras. During the 1970s and 1980s, much of the public safety budget was dedicated to political unrest, which led to numerous serial murder cases in rural areas, such as the Hwaseong serial murder case, notably the Lee Choon-jae case. Even after that, there were cases like Kang Ho-soon and Yoo Yong-cheol that could not have emerged in Korea without the advancement of CCTV technology."
He pointed out that "Starting from the mid-2000s into the 2010s, there have been more psychologically driven, 'random' brutal crimes. We are actively analyzing such cases, including the incident of the late Park Jong-cheol. We aim to present events that reflect the times. We want to showcase what scientific investigation methods were used back then, and I believe there are viewers who find scientific exploration intriguing, as well as those who feel a sense of social change and can recognize the unwavering authenticity of the detectives trying to solve these cases."
What were the most memorable cases until the 100th episode? Ahn Hyun-mo said, "We have certainly addressed many cases over 100 episodes, and before each recording, we often say 'Today's case is very sad' or 'Today's case is so shocking.' I would like to mention one particularly memorable case: we once attempted a unique approach involving the death of Prince Sohyeon. There has been much historical debate regarding this, and Professor Yoo has authored related papers, so we tackled it in 'Smoking Gun.'"
He remarked, "Our director utilized their experience in historical programming for stage direction and content casting. Initially, it felt unfamiliar, but since it was not a murder nor a recent event, I thought it was a remarkable attempt. After doing it, I felt it was an innovative approach. 'Smoking Gun' aims to point out the critical evidence in cases of mysterious deaths or deaths with unknown causes. It's a common tale that everyone knows, but we wanted to approach it differently, suggest what caused the death, and thus, the episode shows the potential for expanding 'Smoking Gun's' scope."
In response, Professor Yoo Sung-ho said, "Looking at the movie 'The Owl,' it seems that Injo assassinated Prince Sohyeon. Since the first paper was published in the 1950s, it has long been a topic widely loved by the public. My wife found the movie captivating, and I wondered if it could be true, so I checked the royal records. With the current advancement in internet technology, I was able to extract the information and wrote an article for the Korean Journal of Legal Medicine regarding the death of Prince Sohyeon. You can easily find it by searching 'Yoo Sung-ho Prince Sohyeon' on Google. I came to believe he had been sick from a long time. He might have either type 1 diabetes or Sjögren's syndrome; that's my hypothesis. Though I can't confirm it, I wrote that it wasn't poison. The PD suggested we take a look at this."
Ahn Hyun-mo added, "After dealing with Prince Sohyeon, we also covered the death of Crown Prince Sado shortly thereafter. Although it's a story known to the entire nation, it was during May, known as Family Month. Considering the hardships faced by many children these days, I thought it was timely to discuss Crown Prince Sado. In the future, I believe there are endless possibilities to explore mysterious deaths buried in history or revisit cases of famous figures worth re-examining."
Meanwhile, PD Kim Jong-seok mentioned, "When I first produced the program, I considered the term 'Smoking Gun' literally as scientific grounds or clues to solve crimes. However, as the program developed, I have come to believe that the true 'Smoking Gun' is humanity itself. While scientific investigation is a means to uncover the truth, without the will to reveal the truth, even the best means won't work. In the case of the Park Jong-cheol incident, if the first pathologist had lacked the courage to make a scientific judgment, the truth would never have been unveiled."
He expressed, "When watching crime programs, we often see cases involving psychopaths, and many conclude with 'these people are different from mere regular individuals.' It becomes essential to analyze why such individuals commit crimes—beyond just identifying their motivation and addressing systemic issues. Understanding their motives will help us devise measures to prevent individuals from becoming offenders. A classic example is the case of Jung Yoo-jung. Jung was diagnosed as a psychopath, but she should have had a secure psychological base to prevent such outcomes; her lack of this security emphasized that parents must serve as their children's secure base. I find myself wanting to share more of these messages as time goes on."
He also mentioned, "As Hyun-mo said, we are incrementally expanding our scope to include historical events. I've gained some inspiration from Professor Yoo's paper. The reason for this is that science continues to evolve, enabling fresh interpretations of events that were poorly understood in the past. Having worked in historical programming, I know that most people believe Injo poisoned Prince Sohyeon, but historians insist otherwise. Even a glance at historical documentation reveals otherwise, yet disbelief persists. The most effective way to clarify this is through scientific and rational deduction; new interpretations of these events are vital."
He continued, "However, this won't be the final conclusion; as more developed scientific analysis methods emerge, different interpretations could arise. As society and scientific technology evolve, our analyses will become different. In the past, people would simply murder others out of madness; now, we can use criminological psychology to discuss how to address such situations. In the future, I believe that the foundational 'Smoking Gun' is humanity, and I hope to create a program that leads to a safer society by fostering better human beings."
The reactions from victim families were also profound. PD Kim Jong-seok began by stating, "As we produce crime content, we are concerned that we could bring back memories that family members do not wish to recall through this program." He then shared, "There was an incident in Tongyeong where a girl was abused by the academy director and died. After the broadcast, we received two types of feedback."
He divulged, "First, there was a complaint expressed through our viewer counseling service, where a relative of the victim wished we did not air the episode. Though we ensured anonymity, they requested we refrain from airing it due to the small size of the community. On the other hand, there was a cousin of the deceased student who expressed gratitude. They were unaware that such incidents had occurred and felt they had moved past it without realizing it had happened in their family."
PD Kim Jong-seok said, "The details are personal matters, so I cannot discuss them, but we sought legal review and asked for any objections, yet we received none. I believe the families felt more than enough while watching the program. I think the production team has been sensitive in distinguishing between merely sensationalizing and empathizing with the victims' pain. That experience remains the most memorable for me."
Additionally, he revealed, "Initially, some detectives were unsure of our program and mistook it for 'Kkokkomu (Story of the Day When You Bite Your Tail)' or 'That Which We Want to Know.' However, once detectives appear on our show, they express immense satisfaction. Since our program involves firsthand accounts from involved parties, they can share their experiences directly. Those who participate often express a desire to return and propose story ideas. When they suggest topics that are worth covering, we follow through with it. I believe this is a desirable direction, and even in lesser-known cases, I regard the input of the detectives, who find meaning in their recommended topics, as a sense of fulfillment."
Kim Jong-seok PD remarked, "While our program fundamentally revolves around crime investigations, it is not necessarily confined to contemporary incidents. There are numerous unsolved historical deaths; there are even books addressing political poisonings. We aim to approach these scientifically. Nevertheless, I suppose more than 80-90% will likely involve modern crimes. However, we will occasionally explore such historical aspects."
Furthermore, he stated, "Having covered episodes involving Prince Sohyeon and Crown Prince Sado, we plan to tackle the case of King Yeonsan as well. King Yeonsan is regarded as one of the most infamous rulers, not just in Korean history but globally. He committed unspeakable acts, killing in unimaginable ways and having a notorious reputation for sexual promiscuity. The reasons behind his actions remain unclear. I believe we will apply scientific approaches to analyze this. Our distinctive feature lies in our 'scientific approach'. We want to explore why individuals commit such acts, with historians using their perspective while 'Smoking Gun' interprets these events through our unique viewpoint. I think we need to do this to ensure our program will last until our 1,000th or 2,000th episode."
'Smoking Gun's' direction ultimately points towards 'people.' Professor Yoo Sung-ho added, "Many believe that scientific investigation alone can solve cases, but ultimately, it is the people who do so. Without national budgets or support, it would not be feasible. The development of scientific investigation in our country is tied to the improvements in living standards and increased support. Many viewers mistakenly believe science can make everything right on its own but I want to emphasize that scientific investigation is just one pillar of human-led investigations."
Ahn Hyun-mo shared memorable reactions regarding changes in societal responses. "In the initial stages, many contacted me, asking whether or not it was alright to discuss such horrific events weekly. They worried if I would feel unsafe coming home. I, too, felt overwhelmed, pondering if I should seek support from the production team. Images of these cases lingered in my mind, making me more cautious and somewhat negatively skeptical. As time passed, however, I believe I have developed a more balanced perspective. If I had not encountered a program like this, I might have only seen one side and viewed the world comfortably. However, I find myself now living in a consolidated society where various individuals intersect. I feel I have grown with this program, and I sense that long-time viewers share a similar understanding. Initially, like many crime programs, some regarded it as utilizing tragic events for sensationalism. Still, they have communicated that they feel more connected with people and the world after watching."
He emphasized, "Similar to what Kim Jong-seok PD mentioned, our program aims to contribute to crime prevention. Often, conversations focus on how to avoid becoming victims—how to properly secure homes, avoid falling for scams, and preventing crime victimization—but we want to inspire thoughts regarding how society can avoid producing perpetrators. Parents raising children, teachers, and individuals operating in various workplaces should contemplate how they can ensure they avoid becoming a source of harm to others. This program encourages people to reflect on their responsibilities, reminding them that their every word and action impacts the world around them."
So, what will 'Smoking Gun' become in the future? Ahn Hyun-mo expressed, "I hope it remains a good program that continues to engage with audiences. I wish for it to contribute to creating a brighter world. While bizarre content floods the airwaves, I hope we can stand firm on the foundation of humanity and make our audiences reflect on their conscience while living in a tightly woven networked society."
Professor Yoo Sung-ho remarked, "Just as in '6 o'clock in my hometown,' where we reveal the beautiful aspects of rural areas while facing its 'malignant' sides, I hope our program shows the darker world but aims to treat it and promote longevity. I hope future forensic specialists will also have the opportunity to appear on this program."
PD Kim Jong-seok noted, "As long as Professor Yoo's health permits, he will continue participating. I believe we are asking what 'humanity' truly means. What does it mean to be human? I expect it will become a program that fosters an appreciation and appreciation for 'humanity.'" He also joked, "For the 100th episode special, Tony An will join us to share his storytelling talents."
'Smoking Gun' airs every Tuesday night at 9:45 p.m. The 100th episode of 'Smoking Gun' will be broadcast on the 24th.
[Photo] Provided by KBS.
[OSEN]