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Staff Reporter
The Nov. 29 episode of MBC television news magazine show ``News Who'' featured legendary acupuncturist Kim Nam-soo, his miraculous works of healing ― and why the 93-year-old's license was temporarily suspended. It was also a show that picked up the highest number of complaints from viewers, together with two other segments aired by KBS and SBS, which likewise covered Kim's practice.
The country's broadcasting regulator said Tuesday that almost 400 complaints were collectively filed against the three shows last year. This is far more than the number of problems raised against ``Mnet 20's Choice Awards'' (84) and Mnet's ``M Countdown'' (75), which were ranked second and third on the Korea Communication Commission's (KCC) 2008 viewer complaint list.
So what did viewers dislike about the way the programs dealt with Kim?
The first of the three shows, which was aired on KBS Sept. 13, triggered the controversy, with its positive depiction of the acupuncturist's moxibustion treatment apparently the biggest problem.
Moxibustion involves heating acupuncture needles with mugwort herb for various treatments.
Kim is licensed to practice acupuncture, but unauthorized to give moxibustion treatment, the Association of Korean Oriental Medicine (AKOM) argued. It also said that Kim should not teach ordinary people the complex method as only professionally trained individuals should practice the art.
The group suspended Kim for nearly two months.
MBC and SBS then aired follow-up reports in November and December, respectively, which delved into the details of the controversy surrounding Kim's world of acupuncture and moxibustion.
The shows listed dozens of notable figures, including former President Kim Young-sam, former Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Hak-soo and celebrated author Jo Jung-rae, who were successfully treated by Kim.
The MBC segment even showed popular actress Jang Jin-young, who is fighting stomach cancer, give testimony of her improving condition after being treated by the acupuncturist.
The two episodes generated solid ratings past the 10 percent mark, but the KCC says they were also the reason why viewer complaints went up sharply in November and December, compared to the previous months.
Comments left on the three networks' forums show that some viewers criticized the ``biased portrayal'' of Kim's power of healing, but many pointed out that it was in fact the members of the Oriental medicine group, who are competitors of Kim, who were bashing the veteran doctor.
jhan@koreatimes.co.kr
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