Premature Cheong... Excluding Bong Joon-ho, "Jung Eun-kyung, the Only Korean in Time's 100 Most Influential"

Criticism for Lack of Caution Due to K-Quarantine Promotion Focus
Cheong: "No Way to Verify as Time Magazine Did Not Disclose List"

Director Bong Joon-ho is answering questions from the press at the official press conference for the film Parasite held on February 19 at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

The Blue House announced on the 23rd that Jung Eun-kyung, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, was selected as the only Korean on Time magazine's list of the '100 Most Influential People in the World in 2020,' but it was later confirmed that film director Bong Joon-ho was also included. Critics say the Blue House made an imprudent announcement, being too focused on promoting K-quarantine.

A Blue House official conveyed the news of Commissioner Jung's selection to the Time 100 list, stating, "This selection signifies that K-quarantine has been recognized as a model that the whole world should emulate."

Time informed the Blue House that Commissioner Jung was selected "due to her outstanding achievements and performance related to quarantine."

Time's article also included an introduction written in the name of President Moon Jae-in.

President Moon said, "In the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus infection) pandemic situation, Korea's quarantine became a global model, and Commissioner Jung led K-quarantine to success by sincerely communicating with the people at the forefront of quarantine."

He continued, "When the first confirmed case occurred in Korea, Commissioner Jung stood before the people as a government representative and transparently announced the situation daily. As the first female head of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, she prepared the 'Unknown Cause Group Infection Response Procedure' manual six months before the outbreak, leading the agency as a well-prepared organization," he evaluated.

President Moon quoted a phrase from Albert Camus's novel The Plague, "The only way to fight the plague is with sincerity," emphasizing, "Commissioner Jung's sincerity will be an inspiring story for countless 'Jung Eun-kyungs' fighting COVID-19 around the world and for all humanity ushering in the post-COVID era."

Initially, the Blue House announced this news stating, "Commissioner Jung was the only Korean selected," but after Time's article was published, it was revealed that director Bong Joon-ho of the film Parasite was also included.

Bong's introduction was written by actress Tilda Swinton, who starred in the film Snowpiercer.

In response, the Blue House explained, "Two days ago, we confirmed with Time that Commissioner Jung was the only Korean selected, and since Time did not disclose the list of 100 people, the Blue House had no way to verify it."

They added, "Commissioner Jung is indeed the only Korean in the 'Leaders' category, and director Bong is included in the 'Artists' section. The Blue House also learned this from Time's article," and stated, "We are very pleased that director Bong was selected and extend our congratulations."

This year marks the 17th year that Time has selected the '100 Most Influential People.' In 2018, President Moon Jae-in was included, and in 2019, BTS and Hoesung Lee, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), were named.