Jeong Sun-hee |
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
A female comedian apologized for a remark radio listeners thought degraded candlelit demonstrations protesting the import of American beef. She also decided to quit all three programs in which she appeared at the broadcasting company.
Jeong Sun-hee, 36, began her radio program on MBC Friday with an apology.
``I thought and thought about how I should start. Many people were hurt by my remark, and posted letters denouncing it on the program's Web site. I could see how much you are angry, and I apologize to you once again,'' she said.
On May 22, she made the controversial comment on a listener's complaint about losing a bicycle at the site of a candlelit vigil. She said: ``Amid rising iron prices, some people have been stealing manhole covers. People participate in candlelit demonstrations over big issues such as mad cow disease, out of patriotism, but do not feel guilty over such small things as manhole theft, which is a crime. Who knows? Some of those steaming over the big issue and participating in the rally may be such small-scale offenders.''
However, despite her tearful apology, citizens are still giving Jeong the cold shoulder.
People immediately began to denounce her, claiming she had made light of the ralliers. Jeong apologized for the comment the next day, but public anger has not subsided.
``I'm also a Korean who worries about the same things as you. I didn't intend to neglect public reaction, but thought people would understand me if I stayed calm for a while. I'm sorry again for not understanding you fully and making you angry,'' she said in Friday's broadcast.
Despite the tearful apology, audiences are still critical. Many said on the Web site that the belated apology will not undo what she said, urging her to quit the show. Internet users are collecting signatures demanding her resignation, with more than 14,000 people signing it so far. They have also urged sponsors of the program to withdraw sponsorship.
``Maybe people misunderstood her. But Jeong, who deals with the public, should have considered this sensitive issue more seriously and made remarks more carefully,'' an Internet user with ID ``himnaera'' said.
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