[Summary] MBC 'Park Won-soon Victim Complainant' Question Controversy... "The Issue Itself Is Secondary Harm"

Controversy Over 'Secondary Harm' in MBC New Reporter Entrance Exam on the 13th
Criticism Continues in Aspiring Journalists' Community
Opposition: "Attempt to Politically Rank Candidates"

Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy reporters Han Seung-gon and Kim Yeon-ju] MBC is facing controversy over 'secondary victimization' after including a question in its entrance exam for new reporters that asked about the appropriate term to refer to the accuser in the sexual harassment allegations against the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon.

According to online communities for media exam candidates and social networking services (SNS) on the 13th, the essay question in MBC's reporter entrance exam asked, "Should the person who raised the sexual harassment issue against former Mayor Park be called a 'victim' or a 'person claiming harm'? (If there is a third term, you may present it with logical reasoning.)"

In response, communities of media exam candidates expressed reactions such as "The essay question for the reporter exam is too much," "Isn't MBC ashamed?" "Apologize publicly," and "The question itself is secondary victimization."

One examinee particularly pointed out, "It is shocking and terrifying that 400 adults debated in detail whether the party involved in the incident should be called a 'victim' or a 'person claiming harm' without knowing anything about the case," adding, "It would feel uncomfortable and bad just knowing that two or three people around me talked about me behind my back."

The term 'person claiming harm' was used in political and media circles after the death of former Mayor Park. At the time, Lee Hae-chan, then leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and others did not define the accuser as a victim but used the term 'person claiming harm,' meaning a woman who claims to have been harmed.

After the controversy over the term as 'secondary victimization,' the Democratic Party decided to unify the term for the accuser as 'victim.' Since then, the media has also referred to the accuser of former Mayor Park as the victim.

On the 13th, a question was raised in the MBC new reporter entrance exam asking whether the accuser in the sexual harassment allegations against the late Park Won-soon, former mayor of Seoul, should be referred to as the victim, sparking controversy. Photo by a community post from media exam preparation students

In response, opposition parties publicly raised concerns. The Sexual Violence Countermeasures Special Committee of the People Power Party issued a statement on the day, saying, "This is secondary victimization of the sexual harassment victim and an attempt to politically screen candidates to hire regime loyalists," questioning the intent behind the question.

They added, "Even the government and ruling party acknowledged that 'person claiming harm' is an incorrect term and changed it to 'victim,' yet MBC brought up the terminology controversy again, which clearly shows an intention," criticizing, "It means they are giving up their role as a fair media outlet."

They urged, "If MBC wants to be recognized as a fair media, they should discipline the exam setter and the approver and apologize to the public."

Park Dae-chul, a lawmaker and former reporter, wrote on Facebook, "For examinees, it is ideological screening, and for the victim, it is no different from secondary victimization," pointing out, "The public broadcaster, which should be a bastion of human rights, made the victim suffer twice."

He continued, "Examinees must have been confused, unable to avoid or fall for the obvious intention," criticizing, "Is MBC a public broadcaster or a public complaint broadcaster?"

Meanwhile, an MBC official explained to a media outlet, "This is already a publicized issue," adding, "We were curious about how candidates define it and express their stance, and wanted to ask how much they consider language use in general, which is why we included the question."

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