Goyu Min Reportedly Suffered from Malicious Comments During Lifetime
Expert: "Malicious Comments Toward Sports Athletes Can Sometimes Be Social Murder"
Female professional volleyball player Go Yu-min (25) was found dead at her home on the 1st. It has been reported that she had been suffering from malicious comments, leading to calls for the abolition of comments on sports articles. /Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon, Intern Reporter Kim Seul-gi] Female professional volleyball player Go Yu-min (25) was found dead at her home on the 1st, and it has been revealed that she had been suffering from malicious comments (malicious comments) during her lifetime, sparking controversy. Previously, portal sites disabled comments on entertainment articles as malicious comments became a significant social issue. However, comments are still allowed on sports articles, where some netizens have been leaving malicious comments that are socially unacceptable, causing problems.
Some argue that critical awareness of malicious comments should be shared throughout society, not just limited to the abolition of comments on entertainment and sports articles.
Experts emphasized that malicious comments directed at athletes can amount to social murder and that responsibility accompanies the right to self-expression.
The Gwangju Police Department announced that Go Yu-min was found dead at her home in Opo-eup, Gwangju, at around 9:40 p.m. on the 31st of last month. The police, seeing no signs of intrusion or criminal suspicion, are investigating the cause of death, presuming that Go Yu-min took an extreme measure.
In May, Go Yu-min expressed her distress over malicious comments and malicious direct messages (DMs) on her social network service (SNS), saying, "Please do not send me presumptuous advice if you are not my fan. I hope you focus on your own matters instead of mine."
Malicious comments. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. /Photo by Yonhap News
As this fact became known, citizens are calling for the abolition of comments on sports articles, just like those on entertainment articles, citing the high number of malicious comments directed not only at entertainers but also at athletes.
According to a survey conducted by the job portal Incruit in January on 'Internet malicious comments,' malicious comments were most frequently directed at entertainers and broadcasters (31.0%), followed by politicians (29.0%) and athletes (14.0%).
Consequently, some have criticized the need to refrain from leaving malicious comments directed at athletes.
A 27-year-old office worker A, who graduated from a physical education college, said, "Athletes are professional sportspeople who make a living from their performance. Therefore, I think healthy criticism of their athletic skills is necessary," but added, "However, when it goes too far, it becomes a problem. Especially, comments on sports articles often become a place for condemnation rather than criticism."
A 24-year-old university student B, who identified as a professional baseball fan, also said, "Honestly, when watching sports games, there are times when I feel frustrated and angry. But handling that with personal emotions and posting comments on articles for everyone to see are clearly different," emphasizing, "Athletes are human too, so they naturally see the comments. I think those who truly enjoy sports should refrain from malicious comments or criticism directed at individual athletes."
Professor Lee Na-mi of the Department of Psychiatry at Seoul National University Hospital pointed out in an interview with YTN Radio's 'Starting a New Morning,' "Sports players, entertainers, and politicians are a kind of public figures, so they are easy targets for attacks. However, for those who suffer, it can be a form of social murder."
Professor Lee added, "Group psychology can sometimes lead to collective intelligence, but it can also lead to collective madness. There may be faults, but exaggeration can become unbearable for the individual, and their families also suffer."
※ If you have difficult feelings such as depression or know family or acquaintances experiencing such difficulties, you can receive 24-hour professional counseling at the Suicide Prevention Hotline ☎1393, Mental Health Counseling Hotline ☎1577-0199, Hope Phone ☎129, Lifeline ☎1588-9191, and Youth Phone ☎1388.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
