Cho Kuk "Korean Media, Guard Dogs or Pets Depending on the Subject" vs Kim Geun-sik "Self-centered View of the Media"

Jokook "Calm Media for Yoon Seok-yeol and Na Kyung-won... Dogged Reporting Depending on the Subject"
Kim Geun-sik "Narrow-minded and Petty"

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who is accused of covering up the inspection of Yoo Jae-su, former Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs of Busan, is heading to the courtroom to attend a continuation trial held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the morning of September 11.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] On the 15th, former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk criticized, "Korean media reports like wild dogs or pet dogs depending on who the subject of the coverage is," while Kim Geunsik, professor at Gyeongnam National University and head of the People Power Party's Songpa-byeong district committee in Seoul, pointed out, "He is really narrow-minded and petty."

Professor Kim wrote on his Facebook that day, "Cho Kuk's view of the media, describing it as wild dogs and pet dogs, is not only vulgar but also thoroughly self-centered," and made this comment.

He said, "If the media covers him excessively, they are wild dog media, and if they cover Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's family gently, they are pet dog media," adding, "If it is the same vulgar logic, then pro-government media that significantly reduced coverage compared to other media during the Cho Kuk incident or the Ulsan mayoral election case would be pet dogs, and a certain broadcasting station that conspired with a fraud convict 'Ddaekkaemun' (a derogatory term for people who blindly support President Moon Jae-in) to conduct a sting operation in the Channel A incident would be wild dogs."

He continued, "Defining the media as wild dogs or pet dogs according to one's own interests is not compatible with democracy," and pointed out, "If media criticizing Cho Kuk are wild dogs, then are media supporting Cho Kuk pet dogs? This kind of view of the media itself is very undemocratic."

Additionally, Professor Kim raised his voice, saying, "As Cho Kuk himself admits, if the reporting guidelines he created are applied and the disclosure of facts related to suspects is restrained, then he should sincerely attend the trial without complaints."

Professor Kim Geun-sik of Gyeongnam University, chairman of the Seoul Songpa-byeong district of the People Power Party. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, former Minister Cho criticized the media's attitude in covering the prosecution's investigation into Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol and former Future United Party (now People Power Party) lawmaker Na Kyung-won.

He posted on his Facebook under the title "Wild dog coverage, pet dog coverage, and no coverage," saying, "The prosecution is investigating various allegations related to Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's mother-in-law and wife, as well as former Liberty Korea Party floor leader Na Kyung-won, but the media is maintaining an unusually calm reporting stance."

Former Minister Cho said, "They are not stationed at the entrance of the house from dawn until late at night, nor do they take pictures of every move of the whole family with cameras equipped with telephoto lenses. They do not pass through the apartment security door to hide under the stairs and question family members returning home," adding, "They do not investigate what brand of glasses they wear, nor the reasons for any divorces, and there is no inquiry into friends or acquaintances of family members."

He said this reporting behavior is "the right thing to do. It should be like this," but added, "However, recalling the second half of last year, my mouth feels bitter like a canker sore. Will this gentle reporting approach be applied to public figures in the progressive camp? Certainly not."

Finally, he concluded his post by asserting, "The media reports like 'wild dogs' or 'pet dogs' depending on who the subject is. Regarding crimes or corruption of their own company's owners, they not only do 'no coverage' but also shout, 'Chairman, stay strong!'"

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