PR expert insults Sewol victims' families

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Mon, December 4, 2023 | 19:34

Naver

PR expert insults Sewol victims' families

김호월 교수, 세월호 유족들 싸잡아 비판

Posted : 2014-05-12 14:00

Updated : 2014-05-12 16:57

By Ko Dong-hwan

Kim Ho-wol, a noted public relations (PR) expert, has come under fire for his Facebook comments many found as a distasteful attack on the families of the victims of the recent ferry disaster.

In his posting, Kim, a professor at Hongik University's graduate school for advertisement and PR, blasted the family members for attempting to hold a rally in front of Cheong Wa Dae to protest the way the government has been handling the tragic accident.

The Sewol ferry sank off the waters of the southwestern island of Jindo on April 16 with 476 people aboard. Only 172 of them were rescued with the remainder confirmed as dead or missing.

Critics have accused the government of bungling its emergency response and failing to properly enforce regulations that would have stopped the ship's operators from putting profit before safety.

''Was the president the owner of the Sewol ship? Why are they protesting in front of Cheong Wa Dae?'' Kim wrote.

''The families of the victims are acting with entitlement as if they have landed important positions or something … This is why many call them uncivilized.''

Kim deleted the posts after it created a firestorm of opinions on online message boards and social media.

''We are witnessing the emergence of a super-human who has detached himself from national fear and sadness… I wonder what happens to the pupils who learn from a teacher like him,'' tweeted novelist Lee Woe-soo.

''It feels like an animal has been criticizing humans for being uncivilized,'' quipped Chin Jung-kwon, a Dongyang University professor and politics pundit.

김호월 교수, 세월호 유족들 싸잡아 비판

서울의 한 사립대 교수가 여객선 세월호 참사 유가족을 비판하는 글을 올려 논란이 일고 있다. 유명 사립대 교수로 알려진 김모 교수는 지난 9일 페이스북을 통해 “대통령이 세월호 주인인가, 왜 (세월호) 유가족은 청와대에 가서 시위하나”라고 밝혔다.

김 교수는 이어 “유가족이 무슨 벼슬(을) 딴 것처럼 생난리를 친다”며 “이래서 미개인이란 욕을 먹는다”고 주장했다.

이에 작가 이외수씨는 10일 트위터를 통해 “전국민의 슬픔과 통곡을 초월한 도인 납셨네”라고 비판했다. 이어 “이런 교수 밑에서는 어떤 제자들이 태어날까”라고 덧붙였다. 진중권 동양대 교수 역시 11일 트위터에 “짐승이 미개인 탓하는 나라”라고 김 교수를 비난했다.

김 교수의 페이스북 해당 게시물은 11일 오후 현재 삭제된 상태다.

aoshima11@koreatimes.co.kr

Top 10 Stories

1	INTERVIEWEcolab helps Korean partners profit from ESG management

2	Seoul Metro begins real-time translation service for foreign tourists at Myeong-dong Station

3	Son-dol: a cold day for a ferryman and a merchant

4	Korean economy to start shrinking by 2050 if low birthrate unaddressed: BOK report

5	Space race heats up between two Koreas after Seoul launches spy satellite

6	ANALYSISHas N. Korean leader's daughter been confirmed as heir apparent?

7	INTERVIEW'Lifeline for migrant workers in Korea' - Rev. Kim fights for foreign employees' rights

8	Uncertainty lingers over Ven. Jaseung's death

9	Korean battery firms face higher costs for access to US subsidies

10	INTERVIEWKorea to work with US, Japan to fight climate change

Top 5 Entertainment News

1	JYP to host annual audition in January

2	Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra dazzles audience at Korea International Festival

3	Popular talk show 'Strong Heart' returns with new format

4	How Lee Ung-no pioneered East-West fusion through brushstrokes

5	REVIEWPreview gala sets stage for grand premiere of 'La Rose de Versailles' musical

DARKROOM