"Ignore Public Sentiment, MBC Must Apologize"… Flood of Protests Over 'Yoon Supporter' Choi Jun-yong's Appearance

MBC Rebroadcasts Last Year's Episode Featuring Choi Jun-yong
"Disregard for Public Sentiment"... Viewer Board Flooded with Complaints

Viewers are strongly protesting the rebroadcast of a program featuring actor Choi Jun-yong, who has caused controversy with his 'pro-treason' remarks, including publicly declaring support for President Yoon Seok-yeol on MBC.

Choi Jun-yong, who appeared on "A Good Day" broadcast on November 11 last year. MBC TV

On the 15th, MBC rebroadcast the November 11th episode of the current affairs and culture program 'A Good Day.' That day was when President Yoon was arrested. The broadcast showed Choi Jun-yong laughing, chatting, and eating food.

Choi Jun-yong has recently attended rallies opposing President Yoon's impeachment and has been criticized for defending the president and martial law. On the 3rd, he took the stage at an 'anti-impeachment' rally and claimed it was "regrettable" that martial law was halted. On the day President Yoon was arrested, he declared on a YouTube live broadcast that he would defend the president while shedding tears.

After the rebroadcast of the program featuring Choi Jun-yong, the 'A Good Day' viewer board has been flooded with related complaints. Viewers said, "Why does someone like that appear on MBC when MBC News criticizes the treason ringleader and his sympathizers?" "With Choi Jun-yong appearing, it’s not a good day but a disgusting day." "Why is Choi Jun-yong, who defends martial law, appearing on MBC?" "A pro-treason figure on the broadcast?" "Is there a reason a pro-treason person appears on a program called 'A Good Day'?" "I can’t help but write this. Choi Jun-yong on MBC?" and other criticisms continued.

Actor Choi Jun-yong and his wife. YouTube

On the 16th, the Citizens’ Coalition for Democratic Media (CCDM) also issued a statement, saying, "On the day President Yoon Seok-yeol was arrested, 43 days after instigating the December 3rd treason, spouting fallacies that 'the law has collapsed' without a single apology to the public, MBC boldly broadcast footage of pro-treason entertainer Choi Jun-yong laughing, chatting, and eating. This irresponsible programming seriously disregards public sentiment and shows that MBC is failing to fulfill its responsibilities as a public broadcaster."

They added, "The media should not provide airtime or print space to dangerous claims spread by far-right figures like Choi Jun-yong, who defend the treason ringleader Yoon Seok-yeol." They criticized, "It is regrettable that MBC, which leads criticism of treason ringleader Yoon Seok-yeol and receives public support for its sharp commentary, aired scenes of a pro-treason figure on a current affairs and culture program." They further stated, "Rebroadcasting the program featuring Choi Jun-yong without review is a betrayal of the mission and social responsibility of a public broadcaster. MBC must clearly investigate the circumstances of the Choi Jun-yong rebroadcast incident and apologize to viewers for the irresponsible programming that is out of touch with public sentiment."