[Sportschosun Reporter Jo Min-jeong] Sang-cheol from ENA and SBS Plus's "I Am Solo" Season 32 has found himself at the center of an online debate over his job after a past TV appearance resurfaced.
Sang-cheol, who is appearing in the current divorcee special, has drawn viewers' attention as he forms a subtle rivalry with Gwang-su over Ok-soon. Born in 1995, he is the youngest among the divorced male cast members, but he has stood out for his serious demeanor and calm charm. In particular, his work at Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has also fueled an image of him as an "elite office worker."
The controversy began with a clip from Sang-cheol's past TV appearance. In 2023, he appeared on KBS's "Scout 4.0 Early Adopter" and introduced his workplace life to younger students.
At the time, Sang-cheol introduced himself as someone who joined Korea Aerospace Industries after graduating from an aviation high school. He described the company as a defense contractor that handles South Korea's aerospace industry, and said one of its strengths is that even high school graduates can land a job with a relatively high starting salary. He also said he began working life at 19 after joining the company. The broadcast also showed him touring the company facilities with younger students and introducing fighter jets.
As the video spread online, some viewers questioned the scope of Sang-cheol's actual work. On "I Am Solo," he said that he had participated in the production of the Nuri (KSLV-II) launch vehicle and handled work related to fighter jets and helicopters. Critics argued that this could be misunderstood as research or design work.
Some internet users reacted by saying, "Production and assembly can be interpreted differently," and "Maybe he embellished his job a bit." Others pushed back against that interpretation, saying, "Production and assembly are part of the manufacturing process," and "It is a stretch to say he lied about his job."
The fact that Sang-cheol's self-introduction scene was edited out of the broadcast has also fueled speculation. On online communities, theories have ranged from security concerns due to the nature of the defense industry to various other explanations. However, the production team previously said of the editing, "It reflected the cast member's request."
Meanwhile, Sang-cheol has been drawing attention since the early episodes for his serious personality, his job, and the story of his divorce. As differing interpretations of his work continue to spread online, interest in the issue is likely to remain for the time being.
Jo Min-jeong
