"Not Fake News but Fake" Tak Hyun-min Criticizes Reports on President Moon and First Lady

Tak Hyun-min, Presidential Event Planning Advisory Committee Member. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Yeon-ju] Tak Hyun-min, presidential event planning advisory committee member, criticized media reports related to President Moon Jae-in and the First Lady attending various events during the COVID-19 pandemic on the 9th, saying, "Fake news targeting the President and the First Lady has gone too far."

In a post on his Facebook on the same day, Advisor Tak said, "While I do not expect the media to fully understand the President's sincerity, deliberately misinterpreting, editing, or exaggerating facts is no different from 'fake news.'"

Regarding the President and the First Lady attending the Air Force Academy graduation ceremony on the 4th, he pointed out, "They attended on behalf of parents who could not attend due to COVID-19, but the media selected a single photo of them laughing heartily at the event and used that scene to belittle the President as someone who does not understand the people's suffering."

Director Bong Joon-ho (left) and President Moon Jae-in (right) attending the luncheon for the cast and crew of the film "Parasite" held at the Blue House on the 20th of last month. Photo by Yonhap News

Regarding the luncheon for the 'Parasite' team held at the Blue House on the 20th of last month, he said, "The meal was arranged out of apology for having postponed several meetings with the 'Parasite' production team, who provided much comfort and inspiration during difficult times. Yet, their smiling faces of encouragement were mocked as the 'President who is out of touch with the situation.'"

About First Lady Kim Jung-sook's visit to a traditional market on the 18th of last month, where a COVID-19 confirmed patient had been, he lamented, "It is an added distortion to misinterpret the First Lady's considerate gesture of asking for items not available in the market and her determination to purchase something there as a grand performance."

Advisor Tak said, "Sincerely, I think it is unavoidable if some people do not understand the 'sincerity' contained in the President's laughter or tears or any fragmentary scene," but he pointed out, "However, not knowing and distorting are very different things."

He added, "That is distortion and falsehood. It is not fake news but fake," and "It is deceiving not only oneself but others as well."

He continued, "I do not know what great gain they seek, but while one may doubt someone's sincerity, making sincerity fake is truly unforgivable."

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