Criticism Over Live Broadcast Commentary Met with Facebook Rebuttal
"Protecting the National Assembly... Conducted Unpaid Domestically"
'Shooting Emperor' Jin Jong-oh, a member of the People Power Party, took on the role of a special commentator for the shooting events at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but there were criticisms that a sitting lawmaker engaging in personal commentary activities is inappropriate. In response, Representative Jin rebutted, saying, "I am diligently fulfilling my duties in the National Assembly" and emphasized that it is "unpaid."
Jin Jong-oh (center) preparing commentary for the men's 10m air pistol final at the Paris Olympics shooting event on the 28th. [Photo by Jin Jong-oh's office blog capture]
On the 28th, Representative Jin appeared as a commentator during SBS's broadcast of the men's 10m air pistol final at the Olympics. He expressed, "It feels like I have returned to the shooting range after a long time," adding, "Old memories come flooding back. I can feel the tension and passion from my days as an athlete again." He also said, "Watching the athletes give their best is moving," and encouraged them, "Don't give up and show your skills until the very end."
Representative Jin also served as an SBS shooting commentator during the Hangzhou Asian Games held last year.
However, some online communities criticized Jin's commentary broadcast, saying things like, "The National Assembly is in turmoil due to the filibuster, is politics a side job?"
Netizens responded with comments such as, "Do lawmakers have a lot of free time?" "Isn't now the time to be thinking and studying about what to do in the National Assembly?" "Is a lawmaker who receives a salary doing other things?" "I don't know if SBS, which called him for commentary, or Jin Jong-oh, who accepted, are thoughtless or doing this on purpose."
In response, Representative Jin refuted these claims on Facebook the same day, stating, "They are fabricating false frames to incite people." He said, "They seem to imagine Jin Jong-oh happily abroad in Paris during this situation," adding, "I have been diligently fulfilling my duties in the National Assembly after meeting party members across the country and earning their trust."
He further explained, "Mokdong SBS and Yeouido are only 15 minutes apart by car," and added, "All talent donation lectures and Olympic commentary activities are unpaid."
A former national shooting athlete, Representative Jin won four gold medals and two silver medals at the Olympics, earning the nickname 'Shooting Emperor.' He was recruited as a talent for the general election in February, was placed fourth on the proportional representation list in the April 10 general election, and became a member of the National Assembly. Additionally, on the 23rd, he was elected as the youth supreme council member through the People Power Party's party convention.
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