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.
KBS anchor's closing lines that infuriated supporters of late Seoul mayor
KBS nightly news anchor Lee So-jung / Korea Times file
By Kang Hyun-kyung
More internet users back the news anchor
By Kang Hyun-kyung
KBS nightly news anchor Lee So-jung drew the ire of supporters of the late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon over her final words on the mayor and his alleged sexual harassment of his former secretary.
At the end of a news broadcast on July 16, Lee quoted a line from Jung Se-rang's fiction novel “From Siseon,” which reads: “A certain suicide constitutes violence, an ultimate form of violence.” She said the line means someone's death could cause deep pain for others who have to live with it.
“The fact that this line has been shared so many times on social media (after Park's death) could mean many people share this view. Now the victim is shouldering the heavy burden of truth because of secondary victimization (by Park's supporters),” she said in her closing lines.
“One TV personality caused a stir for her careless remarks that she was curious why Park's secretary kept silent for the past four years and then abruptly broke her silence. A female prosecutor, meanwhile, mocked the victim's plea, saying she didn't know holding arms constitutes sexual harassment. Finding the truth while sharing the pain that grips the victim ― I think this is what we should do now.”
Lee referred to Park's former secretary who accused her boss of sexual harassment. She took the case to the police on July 8 and Park was found dead early July 10. Police are investigating her accusation.
The KBS anchor's closing lines have caused a belated stir among some Park supporters.
On Tuesday, an internet user filed an online petition to the presidential office, urging President Moon Jae-in to take measures for KBS to fire her over her “inappropriate” remarks.
The petitioner said KBS is a public broadcasting company run by taxpayer money and accordingly is expected to be operated fairly in the best interest of the public. What Lee said during the KBS nightly news on July 16 violated neutrality, the person said.
With her assertive remarks, the petitioner claimed, Lee has misled viewers to believe the late Seoul mayor was guilty.
“She made her own hasty judgment on the case, although the investigation is still underway. By doing this, she gravely defamed the late Seoul mayor,” the petition reads.
As of 4 p.m. on Tuesday, over 15,000 people had signed the petition.
Public opinion on the internet, however, is predominantly in favor of the KBS anchor.
An article about the presidential petition has drawn 246 likes and 3,771 dislikes.
One internet user wrote that Park's supporters “are biased and they criticize people who say what they don't like.”
Another wrote “I didn't know KBS had such a great anchor.”