Cheong "Time Magazine answered that there is only one Jung Eun-kyung in South Korea"

Cheong, Explains Controversy Over Director Bong Joon-ho's Omission from US Time's '100 Most Influential'... "Knew in July but Did Not Inform Director Jeong Eun-gyeong Due to Security"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] "When I asked if there was anyone else in South Korea besides Director Jeong Eun-kyeong, the answer was 'There is only one person.'"

Lee Ji-su, Overseas Media Secretary at the Blue House, said this in an interview with TBS Radio's 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory' on the 24th. TIME magazine selected the 100 most influential people in the world this year, and the Blue House had revealed that Director Jeong Eun-kyeong of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency was included.

The issue was that Director Bong Joon-ho of Korea was also included in TIME's 100 list, but the Blue House's initial announcement described Director Jeong as the only Korean. Various interpretations arose as to why the explanation about Director Bong was omitted. The Blue House later conveyed that Director Bong was also included in the 100-person list. President Moon Jae-in also sent congratulatory messages regarding the inclusion of both Director Jeong and Director Bong in the 100 list.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This secretary's radio interview on that day implies that the Blue House did not deliberately omit the fact that Director Bong was included, but genuinely did not know. The secretary explained, "It was not a situation where we could know at all, and even though we asked to be informed, we received a reply (from TIME) that there is only Director Jeong Eun-kyeong in Korea."

The secretary added, "From our side, there was absolutely no way to know who the other ninety-nine people were." This indicates that TIME paid special attention to the confidentiality of the individuals included in the 100 list.

It is known that Director Jeong, who was included in the 100, was informed of this fact three days before the announcement. The Blue House knew in July that Director Jeong was included but did not inform her due to security concerns. The secretary explained, "One of the things TIME was most concerned about was security."

The secretary said, "(Regarding Director Jeong) I heard that about three days before, TIME sent a congratulatory email," and added, "(The Blue House) absolutely did not notify Director Jeong."

The secretary said, "We thought of it as a small gift, so we especially required confidentiality, and therefore took steps to ensure that the person herself would never be informed. According to what TIME informed us, about three or four days before, they sent her an email congratulating her."

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