Reporting that an elderly demographic was the majority at a rally attended by numerous young people, while ignoring the vast crowd, can only be described as the act of unscrupulous individuals who have abandoned their journalistic conscience. ⒸHanmi Ilbo

It has been several years since I canceled my subscription to C Ilbo, a so-called 'major newspaper' that I had subscribed to for decades. They occasionally call to ask if I'm willing to resubscribe. Each time, I curtly reply, "I'll subscribe when the newspaper lives up to its name." They are shameless to ask for a subscription while producing newspapers like that.

I haven't watched TV in years either. The world has changed, and I now follow various international affairs, including the Middle East situation, through diverse YouTube channels. I can grasp the situation more accurately through these channels than through the biased news filtered by domestic media. 

Media Lies About Turnout

Whether left-leaning or right-leaning, pro-government or anti-government, I respect the editorial stance each media outlet pursues and do not wish to dispute right or wrong based on differences in opinion. 

However, I cannot tolerate reports that present demonstrably false information about facts that anyone present at the scene could verify. For years, even when so many people gathered in Gwanghwamun, they dismissed it as not newsworthy, so I can let that pass.

Recently, broadcast stations have shown up with cameras at a rally in Jamsil protesting the shortage of ballots. Newspaper reporters come without any insignia, so it's impossible to tell if they were there or not.

However, while broadcast cameras ignored the vast crowd and focused on a few people standing in a corner, an announcer reported that about 100 people had gathered, drawing strong protests from the young attendees.

Furthermore, while young people were at the forefront, advocating for a rerun of the fraudulent election and for on-site ballot counting, and the elderly were in the shade cheering them on, the broadcast showed only scenes of the elderly gathered, reporting as if the elderly were the majority and the young people were dwindling.  

The announcer and cameramen on site were also young. I believe they would not have done this without instruction from their editors, ignoring the large crowd and filming small groups or where the elderly were gathered. The broadcast crew members who came for reporting are also young, and they have witnessed the reality on the ground, so they could not have acted on their own volition. 

Saving the Nation Knows No Left or Right

The demands of those gathered at Olympic Park are simple: protest the unprecedented situation of a ballot shortage and ensure the right to vote, and conduct manual vote counting on-site to ensure that votes are counted as cast.

If the election commission cannot resolve such simple demands, it should be disbanded. When we are trying to create a transparent voting and counting system, what does it matter if we are from the ruling or opposition party, or left or right? Any group that refuses to do so can only be considered a criminal organization.

The same applies to media outlets. I can concede a hundred times that I do not wish to question the editorial stance each company pursues. I do not want to question why certain things are not reported. However, at the very least, they should not deliberately distort and report facts that are clearly visible.

Reporting that about 100 people gathered, while ignoring the vast crowd, and presenting a rally attended by numerous young people as if the elderly were the majority, can only be described as the act of unscrupulous individuals who have abandoned their journalistic conscience.

I hope for the day when I can voluntarily watch major newspapers and public broadcasters again, but I won't be disappointed if that doesn't happen. The world is full of excellent YouTube channels, and new reputable media outlets like 'Hanmi Ilbo' and regional newspapers like 'Gyeonggi Daily' are expanding their reach. I hope that the downfall of JTBC serves as a stepping stone for new reputable media to grow. 

◆ Dr. Kim Jae-soo

Doctor of Information Science. Former Director of the Agency for Defense Development. Former Adjunct Professor at Kyonggi University. Former 5th and 6th President of the Republic of Korea ROTC Patriotic Comrades Association. Currently serves as Co-Standing Representative of the National Movement Headquarters for the Abolition of Privilege and Chairman of the National Foundation Bit.