I am an editorial writer at The Korea Times, focusing on foreign policy, North Korea and domestic politics. My key areas of interest include North Korea, foreign interference in elections, election integrity, cyberattacks and human rights. Prior to joining the Editorial Board, I served as both Politics Desk editor and Culture Desk editor. During my career, I have reported on the Presidential Office under the Lee Myung-bak administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Assembly.
YTN news show host draws ire of viewers
YTN news show host Byun Sang-wook / Photo from his Twitter
By Kang Hyun-kyung
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Byun Sang-wook, an evening news show host on the YTN cable network, drew the ire of internet users for his controversial tweets with derogatory remarks about an unnamed young man who delivered a speech at an anti-Moon Jae-in government rally held Saturday.
Byun, 60, called the speaker “su-ggol,” short for “sugu-goo-ggol-tong,” a derogatory expression meaning a hardcore conservative.
“Now in Gwanghwamun, a young man took the podium,” the YTN anchor said in his tweet the same day when the conservative opposition Liberty Korea Party held a protest to urge President Moon to withdraw his nomination of Cho Kuk as justice minister. The protest attracted over 100,000 people.
“He said he doesn't have a father like Cho Kuk and went on to say that's why he stood there for a speech… Yea. You're right. You are there because you don't have a decent father (like Cho). Had you been raised under such a decent father, you would have not taken the podium there today. What a pity.”
His remarks caused a stir. Internet users criticized the 60-year-old journalist for his inappropriate description of the protestor. Over 100 people left comments under the video of the most recent edition of “Byun Sang-wook's Evening News” on YTN's YouTube channel, criticizing him for his tweet.
One internet user wrote, “I couldn't believe what I saw. So the news show host is saying fathers of Korea University and Seoul National University students who participated in the anti-Cho Kuk protests are insane. Wow! The young man he mentioned was criticizing a corrupt politician and in a democratic country, we can do that. But you poured out low-level criticism of him and his father.”
Another internet user urged YTN to fire him.
Byun made the top 10 most-searched names on nation's largest internet portal Naver, Saturday night. His name was still on the list as of Sunday afternoon.
Byun deleted his tweets as the controversy continued. He then tweeted that Korea's mega-churches were instigating the rallies against President Moon for his pick of Cho Kuk for the key ministerial post.
He alleged Facebook is dominated by fabricated news about Cho, saying he could see the influence of mega-churches behind the scenes. “If there was any justice in this country, it would be difficult for mega-church leaders to collect money from their followers,” he tweeted. He further claimed “calculative, cranky” politicians and “horrible” YouTubers influence Korea's journalism.
Byun began his career as a CBS producer in 1983 and joined YTN as an evening news show host in April this year.