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Mar. 29  2024
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A Homosexual Says One Thing, A Newspaper Says Another

homosexuality began to spread nationwide regardless of his agreement, and so he finally came to officially acknowledge the truth of the rumor. After all, the privacy and human rights of a man were trampled because of the reckless yellow journalism.

Source  :  Sungkyun Times

Recently, there was an affair that caused a great sensation in Korean society. It was a so-called ?oming-Out?(the act of confessing one? homosexuality) of a popular comedian and stage actor, Hong Suk-chon who is 29-years-old. From this moment on, the meaning of this word, that had been unfamiliar to the Korean public by that time, became known to Korean society, and came to make for a sort of ?oming-Out?syndrome. But what is even a more remarkable thing is that Hong didn? want his homosexuality to be known to the public at that time. In fact, he had an interview with a newspaper, Daily Sports, and in this spot, he confessed his homosexuality to the press on condition that his confession should be ?ff-the-recorded?till he would have a talk with his parents about this secret. Nevertheless, the press disclosed his sexuality thus breaking its own word. But news got around. Right after this story, the rumor of Hong? homosexuality began to spread nationwide regardless of his agreement, and so he finally came to officially acknowledge the truth of the rumor. After all, the privacy and human rights of a man were trampled because of the reckless yellow journalism.
In connection with this, The Sungkyun Times (SKT) held a round-table discussion with Tai-han Kim Eun-kuk, a staff reporter of Department of News in the Internet Hankyoreh, and Mun Young-jun, a representative of MAUM006, the Iban (means by ?nother class? Movement Organization at Seoul National University, via e-mail.




SKT: As you know, Hong Suk-chon has a ?oming-Out?recently. Regardless of its truth or not, SKT thinks that the press?attitude of reporting is a very serious problem. Of course, it is the duty of press to secure the public? right to know. But before this duty, it is also a very responsible duty to secure the privacy of the socially disadvantaged person by keeping the promise to keep Hong? confession in secret. What do you think about this?
Kim: Frankly speaking, ?ff-the-record?doesn? have any meaning under the condition of Korean press influenced by commercialism. It can only play bait with which the reporters can get a new source. Especially, advertising revenue based on the number of copies sold almost occupies the whole margin of a newspaper office. In this situation, it is only natural that the repo-rter who wrote the article about Hong betrayed him. Furthermore, Hong did a Coming-Out in the open in the situation that homosexuality is not a caring subject in Korea.
Mun: Those events are expected regarding Korean yellow journalism such as sport newspapers, show business newspapers, and some tabloid papers and so forth. Taking into account this fact, I think that Hong had better pay special attention to his choice. However, those Korean situation cannot be an indulgence of the reporter. He is unconscientious as a reporter at least.

SKT: It is not an exaggeration that Hong Suk-chon was ?uted?by the press. Actually, Hong is in a dilemma in that he cannot appear on almost all TV and radio programs. Can he be compensated for his hardship from such journalism? And there are some people who are thinking it is proper for the reporter to dig into an entertainer? private life just because they are public persons. What thoughts do you have about this?
Mun: Till a homosexual person makes up his or her mind to ?ome-Out, he must have been in heavy agony. That? what other homosexual people admired him for, his brave action. However, some press deprived Hong of his chance to Come out by himself.
If he can start his work in a broadcasting (radio/TV) station and the press offers sincere apology openly, it may be a little reparation for him. The press, however, has made an irreparable mistake in that they killed the human rights of one person. I believe that the compensation for him is out of the question.
Kim: Of course, he presented his case to the Press Arbitration Commission. But it was after his image as a public person had already been hurt. And a thought that an entertainer? privacy should be open is the excessively extended interpretation of the idea of a ?ublic person?regardless that the public person is also one who has to be protected of his rights and privacy. On the contrary, reporters should always keep in mind that an article written by them could have a bad influence upon the reported parties.

SKT: However, it didn? take a long time for the press to publish an article supporting Hong? courage. What do think about this?
Kim: That is a kind of trick-the expanded reproduction of information-that has been brought over by the press. Gresham? Law that ?ad money drives out good?is also applied to the circulation and consumption of information. To play a role as the press, it is needed to make social circumstances that the lower grade article can be consumed through the circulation of lower information. Ultimately, mature awareness of the citizens is important.
Mun: I don? think that the press should show only one voice. Instead, it is the right reaction and open mind that they have various voices in the press. But this case is different. To the press, the priority lies not in the human rights of homosexual persons, but in the thought like this: our press should get a scoop on a rival press. And the problem lies not in the different voices, but in the false conscience. I would like to explain the attitude of supporting and defending without any apology to be just a kind of show for stopgap countermove.

SKT: Finally, to make a reform of some speech that overcomes the conservative society like Korea, what kind of issue should come out?
Mun: First of all, I hope that the press has to treat various issues such as the right to labor and to live of homosexuals. Now, the press makes issues just about the pros and cons of it. In this procedure, it seems that other important things are concealed. The press goes to the root of the matter from other angle. Next, I? like to say that the press should not write an article about homosexuality as if they knew better. They have to keep in mind that their dogmatic misconception can kill socially disadvantaged persons. And it is needless to say that reporting morale is basic as a reporter.
Kim: The ?oming-Out?syndrome this time can be an opportunity for the press to have a new angle on homosexuality. Until now, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) or a venereal disease always seems to follow homosexuality in our society. But this is not true. Homo-sexuality is not a kind of pathogenic organism, but a kind of tendency. A factor to form a progressive community is not uniform criterion, but diversification.




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