ENA‘s new variety show Country Life of Gen-Z (also known as City Z Goes to the Countryside) premiered recently. It stars Marry My Husband actor Lee Yi Kyung, Lovely Runner actor Song Geon Hee, comedian and singer Yang Se Chan, comedian Lee Eun Ji, and actor-singer Jung Dong Won (also known as JD1).
A real-life ‘hipster’ variety show where Gen-Z celebrities from the city become country Z by living in the countryside.
— ENA
In the first two episodes, (G)I-DLE‘s Miyeon and aespa‘s Winter guested, exciting fans, including Jung Dong Won, as he is also a self-professed fan of Winter especially.
WINTER for City Z Goes to the Countryside pic.twitter.com/9mzzFvoZoc
— winter pics (@archivedwinter) September 8, 2024
Unfortunately, fans are not happy about Winter’s treatment on the show, specifically by Lee Yi Kyung.
During Episode 2, while preparing food, Winter struggled with the fish bones, so Dong Won stepped in to assist her. He jokingly told the production crew to edit out the parts of him looking uncool.
🐶can we…instead of the ones i looked scared, just edit and air those that i cut (the fish) confidently, to look cool?
winter: is there any…?
*flashbacks to scaredy dongwon😭they do have siblings vibe for real lol#정동원 #시골에간도시Z pic.twitter.com/fQzZtxjGAT
— 🚀 (@spacedongwon) September 15, 2024
One clip has garnered attention on X (formerly Twitter) specifically. It showcased Lee Yi Kyung sneakily taking photos of Dong Won and Winter side-by-side as they prepared food. Yi Kyung handed the Polaroid to Dong Won, but he didn’t leave it at that. He teased Dong Won, asking, “You said you like older women, right?” Yi Kyung gave the Polaroid of Dong Won and Winter to him, referring to it as a “gift.”
Haven’t really had access to internet these days so I missed a lot… I’m so mad these boys are treating Winter like an object
Lee Yi Kyung : “Dong Won-ah, you said you like older women, right? It’s a gift, you punk.”
🎁 A polaroid of him and Winterpic.twitter.com/CEg9s9eHZF
— Jazz (@mjkmwntr) September 17, 2024
Dong Won confessed he does like older women, specifically Winter. He claimed she is reliable. Yet, it’s Lee Yi Kyung’s behavior toward the two that netizens are finding alarming, as he seemingly “shipped” a minor (Dong Won is only 17) with Winter who is 23. Both international and Korean fans found this “creepy” and objectifying toward Winter. It was also concerning he took the photo without their consent or knowledge, as they both appeared surprised.
taking a picture of winter and dongwon (17yrs) without asking and gifting it to him because he “likes older people”…just strange behavior pic.twitter.com/FVGYlJLAWk
— 🥚 (@karwinfan) September 17, 2024
the kid being a fan is harmless but i hope they just let it stayed that way without any side remarks about how they interact
— ً (@wntrsgf) September 17, 2024
하… 난 이것도싫어
둘이 같이 있는 걸 허락없이 사진찍고
두 명이 나온 사진을 한 명한테만 줌
‘너 연상 좋아한다 그랬지? 선물이야 이 자식아.’
여자가물건입니까… 여자가선물입니까…
내의지없이 내가나온사진을 남자가 남자에게 선물한다
안빡침? 난빡침 쟤가 웃는 게 진짜 행복해서웃는것같냐 pic.twitter.com/aV7pPmzKii— 뉴 (@cndnsdmk) September 16, 2024
Ha… I don’t like this either
Taking pictures of the two of them together without permission
Give a photo of two people to only one person
‘You said you like older women, right? It’s a gift, you punk.’
Is she an object… Is she a gift… A man gives a picture of me to another man without my consent
Aren’t you angry? I’m angry. Do you think he’s really happy when he smiles?— @cndnsdmk/X
lee yikyung is so weird for saying that, he’s lowkey shipping a minor with 23 yo woman by saying “they both look good together” THIS ISNT NORMAL 💀💀💀 https://t.co/AmBfEWKomy
— hera 🐈⬛ (@katarinayoonz) September 17, 2024
Meanwhile, fans enjoyed Winter and Dong Won’s interactions, claiming they radiated “sibling vibes.”
