"Biased Opinion Expression... Criticism of Broadcasting Privatization Trend"
Concerns have been raised that the language used in radio current affairs programs tends to be provocative and biased.
On the 28th, the Broadcasting Language Special Committee of the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) released the 'Survey on the Use of Broadcasting Language in Radio Morning Current Affairs Programs,' which pointed out a total of 177 cases of inappropriate language use across four major programs. This is the first survey on broadcasting language targeting radio current affairs programs. The Language Special Committee investigated four programs on June 20: KBS1 Radio's Jeonggyeok Sisa, MBC Standard FM's Kim Jong-bae's Focus, SBS Love FM's Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show, and YTN Radio's News Fighting, This is Bae Seung-hee.
First, among the 'expressions that undermine broadcasting dignity,' examples of 'vulgar or aggressive expressions' included statements such as "(Regarding the investigation of the First Lady) It is literally a political hunt," "Doctors are not the minions of the Medical Association president" (Jeonggyeok Sisa), and "So, when they raise the club, everyone will scatter; they are currently recruiting such people" (Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show).
Additionally, under 'expressions that violate etiquette including prejudice and discrimination,' phrases like "Some stubborn people from Yeongnam trying to conduct ideological verification, shackled by conservative pure-bloodism," and "It's not my money, so I just spend it. There's a thrill in spending someone else's money" (Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show) were cited.
Among 'expressions that may hinder communication,' under 'newly coined words and buzzwords,' problematic phrases included "Commissioner Han Dong-hoon was the main figure behind the 'pokmang' (complete failure) in the last general election" (Kim Jong-bae's Focus), "'Eodaehan' (Anyway, the president is Han Dong-hoon) is not a title but a trend and the mainstream," and "It's a 'subak' (someone who appears to support the Democratic Party on the surface but secretly supports the People Power Party). This is such a 'subak'-like story" (Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show).
Other 'inappropriate expressions' included statements like "We all know who it is, but pretending not to, there is someone who effectively raises their hand with the covert support of pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Seok-yeol), former floor leader Na Kyung-won," and "Pro-Yoon people have become power seekers because President Yoon wants it" (Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show).
The KCSC Language Special Committee explained, "Radio morning current affairs programs have the great advantage of allowing listeners to hear diverse opinions from various panelists on current issues. However, as this survey shows, rather than delivering experts' fair and objective perspectives to listeners, there is a tendency for the broadcasts to be privatized, with panelists openly expressing personal remarks or biased opinions." They added, "When expressing personal thoughts or speculative opinions, panelists must clarify that these are their own views. It is very dangerous to assert unverified information as fact," and emphasized, "Constructive criticism is necessary."
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