The Democratic Party harshly criticizes MBC reporter and secretary's verbal clash... "In the past, we listened to the president wearing ties and sitting upright"

Kim Haeng, Kim Jong-hyuk, and Lee Yong-ho Continue Criticism Targeting MBC Reporters
"Where Did You Learn Such Impudence" "Good That They Don't Let You Ride the Private Jet"

Kim Haeng, Emergency Response Committee member of the People Power Party, is attending the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 14th and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] The People Power Party has heavily criticized an MBC reporter who engaged in a heated exchange with a presidential secretary during President Yoon Seok-yeol's doorstepping (morning Q&A) session.

Kim Haeng, a member of the People Power Party's Emergency Response Committee, appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 21st and said, "Reporters assigned to the Blue House are the top reporters of their media outlets. The most skilled and well-mannered reporters are sent there," adding, "A reporter shouting behind the president after an interview is an unimaginable scene."

He continued, "When I was a spokesperson, whenever the president or the chief of staff gave an interview, all reporters wore ties and listened attentively in a proper posture," and questioned, "Did the president not treat all reporters formally, wearing suits and proper attire?"

He further emphasized, "If this worsens the relationship between the presidential office and the media in the future, the greatest damage will be suffered by the public, and reporters from other media outlets besides MBC will also face considerable harm," and stated, "I believe this issue must be addressed and not overlooked."

Kim Jong-hyuk, another member of the same party's Emergency Response Committee, criticized the MBC reporter for crossing his arms while wearing slippers during the verbal confrontation with the presidential secretary, calling it "rude." Kim, a former editor-in-chief of JoongAng Ilbo, wrote on Facebook on the 19th, "Freedom of the press must be respected. However, please consider the responsibility of the media and the manners expected of a human being before being a reporter," and asked, "Shouldn't reporters not behave like thugs?"

People Power Party lawmaker Lee Yong-ho also posted on Facebook, "It is said that the MBC reporter was wearing slippers during the doorstepping. It seems to be usual for him, but the presidential office is not a back alley market," adding, "It is a place frequently visited not only by the president but also by foreign dignitaries. I don't know where he learned such bad manners, but before being a reporter, he needs to learn proper etiquette."

Lee continued, "Now that I think about it, it was probably a good decision not to let him board the presidential plane. Who knows if he was just wandering around in his underwear on the plane," and added, "Freedom of the press does not grant reporters the freedom to be rude."

On the 18th, during President Yoon's morning Q&A session upon returning from a Southeast Asia tour, a heated exchange occurred between an MBC reporter and Lee Ki-jung, the presidential office's public relations planning secretary.

That day, President Yoon explained regarding MBC's exclusion from boarding the presidential plane, "It was an unavoidable measure as the media showed malicious behavior attempting to sow discord in the alliance, a core pillar of national security, by spreading false news," referring to MBC's initial report of the president allegedly using profanity during his visit to New York in September, which was deemed harmful to national interests.

After President Yoon finished speaking, the MBC reporter asked, "What exactly did MBC do maliciously?" as the president was turning away, but President Yoon did not respond and proceeded to his office. Then, when the secretary said, "It's impolite to speak like that to someone who is leaving," the MBC reporter replied, "Can't I even ask questions?" leading to a roughly two-minute-long verbal confrontation.

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