Controversy Over KBS Director's Remark Calling Anti-Contaminated Water Opinion "Less Civilized Joseon People"

SNS says "Rising Sun Flag" praising Japan
Appointed as KBS director recommended by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, former prosecutor

Controversy has erupted after it was revealed that Kim Jong-min, a lawyer recommended by the ruling party and a KBS board member (Kim Jong-min Law Office), referred to the public opinion opposing the Japanese government's discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean as "pre-modern Joseon people who have not yet undergone civilizational enlightenment."

On the 5th, Kim praised Japan on social media, saying Japan is "rising like the Rising Sun," while Korea remains "pre-modern." A former prosecutor and former head of the Suncheon branch of the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office, Kim currently serves as the chief legal representative for the National Assembly in the impeachment trial of Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min.

Attorney Kim Jong-min from the National Assembly is attending the impeachment trial verdict of Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min held at the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 25th.
[Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@]

He wrote, "Watching the fuss over Fukushima nuclear treated water, I realize that the Republic of Korea is still a pre-modern backward country that has not shed the Joseon era." He added, "Even if you drive a Benz and wear Hermes while living in luxury, if you cannot overcome mental pre-modernity, you are just South Korea, a country with insufficient civilizational enlightenment. The Republic of Korea, whose people loudly reject even the IAEA's scientific verification results, will become a global laughingstock."

On the 5th, Director Kim wrote on his Facebook, "Watching the fuss over the Fukushima nuclear wastewater, I realize that the Republic of Korea is still a premodern backward country that has not yet shed the old Joseon era." He added, "Even if you drive a Benz and wear Hermes while living in luxury, if you cannot overcome mental premodernity, you are just an underdeveloped South Korea with insufficient civilization enlightenment. The Republic of Korea, whose people loudly refuse to trust the IAEA's scientific verification results, will become a global laughingstock."
[Photo by Director Kim Jong-min's Facebook]

Kim continued, "Unless the irrational spiritual world far from reason and science is fundamentally reformed, Korea's modernization and path to becoming an advanced country will remain a futile delusion," and asked, "Those who believe the Fukushima rumors, are you Korean or Joseon people?"

In particular, Kim referred to a report stating that 56.3% of the public do not trust the IAEA's Fukushima contaminated water report as "the still pre-modern Joseon people's appearance who have not yet undergone civilizational enlightenment."

Director Kim also criticized in the comment section by attaching a news article about the decline in President Yoon Seok-yeol's approval rating, saying, "56.3% do not trust the IAEA report. Have you even read it? This is still the appearance of pre-modern Joseon people whose civilization has not yet fully developed."
[Photo by Director Kim Jong-min's Facebook]

In the comment section, Kim also criticized by attaching a news report about President Yoon Seok-yeol's declining approval ratings, saying, "56.3% do not trust the IAEA report. Have you even read it? This is still the appearance of pre-modern Joseon people who have not yet undergone civilizational enlightenment."

Previously Praised Japan Several Times

Director Kim has previously praised Japan several times. In an SNS post he made in April while in Japan, he said, "Even though it is a very brief and fragmentary perspective, it is enough to feel the rising momentum of Japan once again," adding, "While I can understand the mental victory of wanting to deliberately underestimate Japan, it does not help South Korea's development or mental health at all."
[Photo by Jongmin Kim]

Kim has previously expressed supportive opinions toward Japan several times.

In an SNS post in April while in Japan, he said, "Even if it is a very brief and fragmentary perspective, it is not insufficient to feel the momentum of Japan rising again like the Rising Sun," adding, "I understand the mental victory of wanting to underestimate Japan, but it does not help the development or mental health of the Republic of Korea at all."

In a post on February 3, he wrote, "With hope that this will be a turning point to overcome Joseon's pre-modern backwardness and be reborn as a truly modern Korean, I want to walk the streets of Tokyo whenever I have time starting this year."

Meanwhile, Kim, a former prosecutor and former head of the Suncheon branch of the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office, currently serves as the chief legal representative for the National Assembly in the impeachment trial of Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, recommended by the People Power Party.

Recently, regarding the issue of separate collection of KBS license fees, when Nam Young-jin, a board chairman recommended by the opposition, attempted a vote saying "a public opinion survey is necessary," Kim climbed onto a desk, stomped his feet, and raised his voice, saying, "You are not qualified to be chairman."

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