Yoo Yeon Seok and Chae Soo Bin’s When the Phone Rings has issued an apology for the recent controversy surrounding the mockery of sign language.

On November 29th, the drama’s production team released a statement on the viewer’s board addressing the issue. The statement began by saying, “We take the criticism about the improper handling of sign language very seriously, especially as it led to the mockery of the Deaf community and Korean sign language.”

They went on to clarify, “The drama’s theme centers around ‘communication’ between people, and there was absolutely no intention to mock or belittle sign language, which is a vital communication tool for the Deaf community.”

However, the production team admitted, “We humbly acknowledge that we did not give enough attention to the struggles of the Deaf community and the importance of Korean sign language. We will ensure that such mistakes do not happen again in the future.”

The statement also highlighted the role of sign language in the drama, saying, “Sign language plays a crucial part in the relationship between the two main characters as they learn to communicate with each other. Through their journey, we want to show the true value of sign language as an important tool that connects people.”

The production team concluded by asking for viewers' continued support, saying, “We hope you will keep watching the drama and point out any shortcomings you notice.”

Earlier, in the first episode of When the Phone Rings, which aired on November 22nd, a mistake occurred when sign language interpreter Hong Hee Joo (played by Chae Soo Bin) mistakenly used the sign for "mountain" while trying to interpret "landslide" due to a broadcast error.

This led to the sign being misunderstood as a finger gesture commonly seen as offensive, sparking backlash.

After the episode aired, a viewer posted a complaint on the viewer’s board, asking for an apology for mocking sign language.

The viewer explained that the sign for "mountain" is different from the offensive gesture and that using it in this context was hurtful to the Deaf community, as it has been used as a joke by hearing people.

The post described this as an act of discrimination and mockery, calling for a more respectful approach.

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BTS's V is making his fans fall even more in love with him as he shares moments from his life just 40 days before his military discharge.

On April 30, V posted several new photos on his Instagram story, giving fans a sneak peek into his daily routine.

Among the photos was a beautiful shot of cherry blossoms, accompanied by the word "cherry blossom" as he expressed his longing for spring.

He followed up with more photos, sharing how much he wanted to enjoy the season with his fans.

To make the post even more special, V added background music from BTS member J-Hope's song Sweet Dreams and Design by the American punk band Gustav.

It turns out that Gustav was grateful for V introducing their music to the world and even received fan comments saying they discovered the band through him.

In another adorable photo, V posed with CF director Ray J. Yi (Lee Jun Yeob), with flowers in his hair. The director also shared the cute photo, adding the word "flower" to express how happy he was with the moment.

But it wasn’t all about flowers and beauty—V also gave fans a peek at his workout routine. He proudly showed off his toned arm muscles in a picture, though his face appeared a little thinner.

This is likely due to his diet, as he’s been working hard to maintain his figure ahead of his discharge. Before enlisting, V weighed 62 kg, and during his service, he reached 86 kg. Now, he’s lost 10 kg and is preparing for his return to the public eye.

Interestingly, V has been working out at the same place where singer Kim Jong Kook films his popular YouTube channel Jim Jong Kook, sparking fan excitement and hopes that V might make an appearance on the show after he’s discharged.

As soon as V shared his latest update, his name—"KIM TAEHYUNG"—shot to the top of real-time trending charts worldwide. Fans from all over the globe, including in the U.S., couldn’t get enough of the updates, proving once again the massive impact V has.

He is set to be discharged from the military on June 10, and fans are eagerly awaiting his return.

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