[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Yeon-ju] Freelance announcer Park Ji-hee made a remark implying "Why didn't you report it earlier?" toward former secretary A, who accused the late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, sparking a secondary victimization controversy. Although she later clarified her statement, the unapologetic attitude of writer Lee Dong-hyung, who was at the center of the controversy, drew criticism.
On the afternoon of the 16th, appearing on the YouTube channel 'Lee Dong-hyung TV Live,' announcer Park said about the controversy, "My intention was that if I had visited and spoken out of concern, the period of suffering might have been shortened."
At the beginning of the broadcast, MC Lee Dong-hyung said, "As soon as we turned on the broadcast, there were 3,000 viewers," adding, "I ranked 4th in real-time search terms. It's a shame I didn't get 1st place," seemingly acknowledging the controversy.
Regarding her criticism of the accuser's press conference, Park explained, "From the victim's perspective, the more it becomes a political issue and the more people talk about it, the more painful it would be. So my intention was to present clear evidence and put an end to the controversy," adding, "This statement was distorted in the media."
She continued, "I apologize for having made the remark itself," and added, "I worry that the scattered reports might have caused further harm to the victim."
However, Lee Dong-hyung said, "I received an enormous number of messages today. At times like this, we must respond calmly," and added, "I believe I have done nothing wrong, but if I am pressured into apologizing now, I will only be hit harder."
He further said to announcer Park, "When all the media attack, people around you tell you to apologize. If you apologize, they hit you again, and then everyone who didn’t know will find out."
Meanwhile, during a tbs 'Clean Zone' podcast broadcast on the 14th, announcer Park Ji-hee faced public backlash for saying about former Mayor Park Won-soon’s accuser A, "Why couldn’t you report it at that time? I want to ask that too."
Park also said, "I’m curious what you were doing for four years and why you suddenly came out into the world with lawyer Kim Jae-ryeon like this now."
Lee Dong-hyung, host of YTN Radio's 'Lee Dong-hyung's News Face-off,' said on the 15th about A, "The accused’s life is over, so what are they hiding from?"
He added, "(The accuser) hides behind the scenes and calls everything secondary victimization," and said, "'Me too' cases are about revealing personal information to speak out about past incidents that could not be disclosed before."
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