"We Didn't Want This Medal Color"… MBC Faces Broadcast Controversy Again on the Day the President Apologized

Park Sung-je MBC President's Public Apology on the 26th
"Broadcasting Lacked Caution and Consideration for Participating Countries"

On the 26th, Ahn Chang-rim, who won the bronze medal in the men's 73kg judo event at the Tokyo Olympics, is moving for a commemorative photo at the Nippon Budokan in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] MBC's coverage of the '2020 Tokyo Olympics' has continuously been embroiled in controversies. This time, the controversy arose on the same day as the national apology press conference held regarding the previous issues.

On the 26th (local time), the men's judo 73kg bronze medal match was held at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan. In the match, South Korea's national representative Ahn Changrim defeated Azerbaijan's Rustam Orujov to win the bronze medal.

The controversy emerged during the broadcast. An MBC caster commentating the match said, "It's not the medal color we wanted," expressing disappointment.

In response, commentator Jo Junho encouraged, saying, "Even the bronze medal is a precious achievement," and the caster concluded the broadcast by adding, "I think our athletes can be satisfied as a reward for the sweat and tears they have shed over the past five years."

The caster's remark about the 'medal color' seemed to express regret over the result compared to the athletes' efforts, but some netizens criticized it as "gold medal supremacy."

One netizen pointed out, "This is not the 1970s to be fussing over medal colors," adding, "It goes against the Olympic spirit." Other netizens also poured out criticism such as, "What are you saying to the hardworking athletes?" and "Is only the gold medal a medal?"

MBC's apology released after the controversy over the 'Opening Ceremony live broadcast.' / Photo by MBC Broadcast Screen Capture.

This controversy arose on the same day that MBC President Park Sungje issued a national apology regarding MBC's Tokyo Olympics coverage.

At a press conference held at the MBC Management Center in Mapo-gu, Seoul, President Park bowed his head and said, "I sincerely apologize to the citizens of the countries who were hurt by the careless broadcast and the viewers who were disappointed due to the lack of consideration for participating countries."

Meanwhile, MBC has recently faced criticism from netizens for multiple controversies during its Tokyo Olympics coverage.

The controversy began on the 23rd during the Olympic opening ceremony broadcast. While introducing the countries' entrance process, MBC aired photos and subtitles that seemed to mock other countries. For example, when Ukrainian athletes entered, MBC showed photos from the Chernobyl nuclear accident, and when introducing Haiti, they included images related to local riots following the president's assassination.

On the 25th, MBC again faced backlash for airing subtitles that appeared to mock an opposing player who scored an own goal.

At the Kashima Stadium in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, the men's soccer Group B preliminary match between South Korea and Romania took place.

During the match, Romanian player Razvan Marin scored an own goal in the first half, giving South Korea a point. After the first half ended, MBC aired a commercial break with a subtitle on the top right of the screen saying, "Thank you, Marin."