TBS: "Kim Eo-jun's 'Daegu remarks' urged quarantine measures... Some media distorted the meaning"

Broadcaster Kim Eo-jun. Photo by tbs YouTube channel capture

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Broadcaster Kim Eo-jun recently sparked controversy by referring to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation as the 'Daegu Incident.' In response, 'TBS' clarified, stating that "the core issue was urging the safety of Daegu citizens."

On the 9th, TBS released an official statement asserting, "Contrary to some media claims, there was no intention to disparage or belittle Daegu citizens. Rather, the remarks strongly urged the prosecution, certain media outlets, and conservative opposition parties to prioritize the safety of Daegu citizens in quarantine measures."

They continued, "Since the spread of COVID-19 was regionally concentrated in Daegu and socially linked to the unique characteristics of the religious group Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the quarantine measures to protect Daegu citizens' safety must focus on these two points. To emphasize this, the 'Daegu Incident' was described as the 'Shincheonji Incident.'"

On the 6th, during the broadcast of 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory,' Kim stated that confirmed COVID-19 cases in Daegu were rapidly increasing, saying, "If China was truly the problem, why would the metropolitan area with a population of 23 million have only about one confirmed case per 100,000 people? The numbers clearly indicate that the COVID-19 situation is both a Daegu incident and a Shincheonji incident."

Some viewers argued that these remarks were "insulting to Daegu citizens." On TBS's official website free board, some netizens continued to demand Kim Eo-jun's removal from the broadcast and an official apology.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.