A petition calling for the resignation of KBS announcer Kim Jin-woong has garnered attention.
On the 25th, a lengthy post titled 'I petition for Kim Jin-woong announcer to step down from all programs and resign' was published on the KBS viewer petition board.
The author stated, "As a viewer who pays the license fee, I feel deep disappointment and anger toward the recent remarks and attitude of KBS announcer Kim Jin-woong," pointing out comments made by Kim Jin-woong in a variety show aired the previous day.
He continued, "A public broadcaster's announcer is not just a presenter, but should demonstrate trust and dignity in front of the people through their words and actions," adding, "However, Kim Jin-woong made inappropriate remarks targeting a senior fellow announcer on a variety program, stating 'I cannot live as someone's sub' more than twice, which went beyond mere jokes and publicly belittled a specific individual."
The author also noted, "Especially considering his late 30s age and the weight of the profession as an announcer, it is even more shocking that he mentioned lack of experience as an excuse for not wanting to miss the precious opportunity he had found for himself, making comments akin to those of a late teenage high school student. There is no excuse for not even being able to manage basic conduct as an announcer," and emphasized, "Moreover, during the broadcast, he mentioned his salary was over 70 million won, which raises questions about whether it is appropriate for a public broadcaster's announcer to publicly disclose their salary. I believe that a thorough investigation is necessary regarding whether this statement violated the employment contract or internal regulations, as well as KBS's management and oversight responsibilities."
The author emphasized, "A public broadcaster's announcer stands upon the trust of the viewers. However, Kim Jin-woong's remarks tarnish the dignity of all KBS announcers, betraying the trust of the citizens who pay the license fee. Therefore, I strongly petition for Kim Jin-woong to step down from all programs and resign from his position as a KBS announcer. I hope this petition serves not just as personal discipline, but as an opportunity to restore the responsibilities and dignity expected of a public broadcaster. I strongly urge KBS not to ignore the voices of viewers and to fulfill its responsibilities as a true public broadcaster."
Earlier, on the 24th, the KBS2 variety show 'The Boss's Ears are Donkey Ears' featured Eom Ji-in visiting a marriage agency with junior announcers Kim Jin-woong and Kim Jong-hyun.
When Eom Ji-in stated, "Among the junior male announcers, the one who seems to have gotten married the best is Do Kyung-wan," Kim Jin-woong responded, "I can't live like Senior Do Kyung-wan. Although it may be rude to say this to my senior, I cannot live as someone's sub," and he added, "I apologize to my senior, and it may be rude, but it seems difficult for me to live that way," making it clear he could not handle such duties. He described Do Kyung-wan's dedication and support for his wife and children as being 'someone's sub.'
Afterwards, Jang Yoon-jung also expressed her displeasure on her personal SNS shortly after the broadcast, saying, "I received a message from an unknown number, and they contacted me to convey their apology after searching for my number. It requires courage to apologize, and if they come forward with an apology, I believe I should accept it, considering their feelings. I won't say much more. I hope for abundance, happiness, and luck in their future."
The next day, on the 25th, Kim Jin-woong posted an apology letter stating, "I apologize for the careless remarks made during today's broadcast, which caused concern to Seniors Do Kyung-wan and Jang Yoon-jung. I also extend my apologies to the viewers and fans who felt uncomfortable due to this incident."
He continued, "I still lack experience and it feels like a precious opportunity that came to me, so I was overly eager and did not exercise caution. As a result, I made statements that should not have been spoken." He expressed his remorse, saying, "Especially since Senior Do Kyung-wan has always been supportive of me even when I was working in the local area, often encouraging me and saying to contact him whenever I was hungry, he is a warm-hearted senior who takes care of junior announcers. I truly regret causing great trouble to him."
He further stated, "Through this incident, I have deeply felt how much hurt a thoughtless remark can cause. I will remain vigilant to ensure such incidents do not happen again. I sincerely apologize once more."
Jang Yoon-jung also accepted the apology, stating, "A little while ago, I received a message from an unknown number, and they contacted me to express their apology after searching for my number. It takes courage to apologize, and if they reach out with an apology, I believe I should accept it, considering their feelings. I won't say much more. I hope for abundance, happiness, and luck in their future."
However, the backlash continues. Critical opinions regarding announcer Kim Jin-woong persist, and the OTT service Wavve has suspended replays of the episode of 'The Boss's Ears are Donkey Ears' that aired on the 24th.
[Photo] OSEN DB, Screenshot from 'The Boss's Ears are Donkey Ears'
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