"No Reason to Pay License Fee"... KBS Faces Backlash Over 'Yoon's Iljanggi Salute'

KBS Anchor "Only Saluted President Yoon's Rising Sun Flag"
Later "There Was an Error in Explaining the Situation"
Political Controversy Expands... "Must Apologize to the Public"

On the 16th, KBS broadcasted President Yoon Suk-yeol's inspection of the Japanese honor guard and provided commentary suggesting that "President Yoon only bowed to the Hinomaru," later issuing an apology. Despite KBS's apology, the controversy spread to the political sphere.

President Yoon salutes only the Hinomaru?…KBS issues belated apology

President Yoon Suk-yeol, who visited Japan for a 2-day trip, is paying respects to the national flags of both countries while reviewing the honor guard with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Prime Minister's Official Residence in Tokyo on the afternoon of the 16th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the day of the Korea-Japan summit, KBS live-streamed the welcoming ceremony held at the Japanese Prime Minister's Official Residence in Tokyo. President Yoon and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida entered for the honor guard inspection and saluted in front of the national flags of both countries.

The KBS anchor reporting the scene said, "You just saw President Yoon saluting the Hinomaru," adding, "The Taegukgi is installed on the podium, but it doesn't seem like the honor guard is holding our national flag." The female anchor co-hosting the broadcast agreed, saying, "Yes, that's right."

However, at that time, both the Taegukgi and the Hinomaru were displayed simultaneously in front of the two leaders.

In response, KBS stated, "Earlier, during the broadcast of the welcoming ceremony at the Japanese Prime Minister's Official Residence, the male anchor mentioned that the honor guard did not seem to be holding the Taegukgi while President Yoon was greeting the Japanese honor guard. However, in reality, the Japanese honor guard was holding both the Japanese national flag and the Taegukgi." They added, "Only the Hinomaru was visible on the screen, which caused an error in the explanation of the situation. We correct this and apologize for the confusion caused."

Later, through the main news program 'News 9,' KBS also said, "At the first event, the welcoming ceremony at the Prime Minister's Official Residence, the Japanese honor guard held both the Taegukgi and the Hinomaru, and President Yoon paid respects in front of both national flags." They continued, "However, since only the Hinomaru was shown on the screen, the male anchor made an error in explaining the situation. We correct this and apologize for the confusion caused."

Controversy within political circles... "KBS must apologize to the public" vs. "Presidential protocol mistake"

President Yoon Suk-yeol, who visited Japan for a 2-day trip, is listening to the national anthems of both countries with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at a welcoming ceremony held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence in Tokyo on the afternoon of the 16th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Although KBS apologized for the erroneous report, controversy continues within political circles. On the 17th, Park Sung-joong, a member of the People Power Party, issued a statement saying, "KBS, the host of fake news, is strongly warned to apologize to the public."

He claimed, "Despite President Yoon saluting the Taegukgi with his hand over his chest during the honor guard inspection before the Korea-Japan summit, two public broadcasting anchors spread false information that he only saluted the Hinomaru," adding, "The image they wanted is not pure. It is no different from treason."

He continued, "There is no reason for the public to continue paying the license fee to KBS, the host of fake news," warning, "If KBS continues broadcasting that damages national interests, it will face strong public criticism and neglect."

In the opposition camp, criticism arose that President Yoon's salute to the Hinomaru was a protocol mistake. Tak Hyun-min, who served as the Blue House Protocol Secretary during the Moon Jae-in administration, wrote on Facebook, "Since President Yoon did not salute twice, it must be seen as a salute to the Hinomaru," and claimed, "It is a presidential protocol mistake."

According to the Presidential Office, Japanese custom is to pay respects to each other's national flags during the honor guard inspection. In fact, leaders from Indonesia, Vietnam, and other countries who have visited Japan previously all bowed simultaneously in front of their own national flags and the Hinomaru alongside Prime Minister Kishida. This is the same scene where President Yoon bowed together with Prime Minister Kishida during the honor guard inspection on that day.

A Presidential Office official stated, "During the welcoming honor guard ceremony for leaders, the Japanese custom is for both leaders to briefly stand and bow to each other's national flags during the honor guard inspection," adding, "Accordingly, President Yoon paid respects to the national flags together with Prime Minister Kishida, and prior to that, he respectfully placed his hand over his chest in front of the Taegukgi."