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By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yu In-chon apologized Sunday for swearing at photojournalists during the parliamentary audit at the National Assembly.
``I sincerely apologize for my inappropriate words and behavior to reporters as a governmental official regardless of the reason, creating trouble to people and journalists,'' Yu said in a press conference.
Yu's apology came amid mounting criticism from the public over his offensive words at reporters and photographers in protest against the remarks of Lee Jong-kul, a lawmaker of the opposition Democratic Party, made during a session of the Culture, Sports, Tourism, Broadcasting and Communications Committee on Oct. 24.
``During the suspension of the meeting, I accidentally made the inadequate remarks in anger after hearing the humiliating words (from Lee). But I am sorry for troubling the public in these hard times caused by the financial crisis,'' Yu said.
Yu reacted against Lee's expressions of ``Lee Myung-bak who seized power by deceiving 40 million people'' and ``Ministers, vice-ministers and would-be appointees by Lee for the top posts of the government institutions are all yes men, rallying around Lee.''
Lee's remarks triggered anger from lawmakers of the ruling Grand National Party, leading to the suspension of the meeting. Then, Yu was expressing dissatisfaction to committee chairman Ko Heung-kil. When photographers rushed forward to take photos of the scene, Yu sounded off, saying ``Don't shoot me! (It's) Pissing me off. (expletive)'' toward the photographers.
Concerning some public opinion calling for him to step down, Yu said, ``So far, I haven't left my post. I am doing my best and I can take the responsibility after finishing my duty if I should leave the post,'' he said.
Video clips showing the scene quickly spread through the Internet over the weekend, putting him under fire on the homepage of the ministry and major portal sites, saying ``it's an insult to the public'' and ``the minister's quality is doubtful.''
Meanwhile, Lee Beom-suk, a representative of a press corps of photographers of the National Assembly, issued a statement on Sunday, saying that the minister's offensive words to photographers on duty is an apparent violation of the freedom of press and at the same time an insult.
chungay@koreatimes.co.kr |
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yistory@koreatimes.co.kr
