Yoon Ilsang Criticizes "Witch-Hunt" Culture: "Celebrities Like Park Narae and Cho Jinwoong Are Demonized Before Facts Are Known"

"Fake news amplifies the harm"
Supports introduction of real-name system online
"Condemned without verifying the facts"
Sharp criticism of the culture of public shaming

Star composer Yoon Ilsang has publicly raised concerns about the indiscriminate "witch-hunt style criticism culture" targeting celebrities involved in various controversies.

On January 22, Yoon Ilsang mentioned the recent string of incidents and scandals in the entertainment industry, referencing figures like Park Narae and Cho Jinwoong, through his YouTube channel. He said, "Even if it's not just the entertainment industry, can't we wait until the facts are clearly revealed?" and added, "There are too many people suffering as a result."

Composer Yoon Il-sang. The Asia Business Daily

Commenting on the attitude of some members of the public, Yoon Ilsang pointed out, "People place blind faith in knowledge they have gained without effort." He continued, "Ideology is an ideological orientation. If you are an intellectual, you should have your own ideology, and after verifying it through study, you should be able to say, 'This is what I think.'" His remarks were intended to warn against the tendency to judge others based on fake news or fragmented information.

In particular, Yoon Ilsang strongly criticized the phenomenon of "demonization" surrounding celebrities. He said, "These days, as soon as a celebrity does something, they are immediately branded as a villain. It has become almost habitual." He added, "When someone with a good image falls from grace, people rush to say, 'Serves them right.' That's not how ordinary people feel." He went on to say, "Once someone is demonized, the next step is social ostracism. We should listen to both sides, and if someone is deemed unfit to stand before the public, they should decide for themselves."

Star composer Yoon Il-sang publicly raised concerns about the indiscriminate "witch-hunt style criticism culture" targeting celebrities involved in various controversies on his YouTube channel "Produceol Yoon Ilsang."

Yoon Ilsang also referred to celebrities who have been hurt or even lost their lives due to extreme criticism and public shaming in the past, expressing his anger: "Is it human to say, 'Let them get what they deserve,' about someone who has passed away?" He emphasized, "This is not aimed at any particular individual. Too many stars have been sacrificed in the same way." He also expressed strong support for the introduction of a mandatory real-name system online.

Yoon Ilsang stated, "If I have done something deserving of criticism, I should be criticized," and stressed, "It shouldn't be a system where only the rights of criminals are protected. Responsibility and fairness must go hand in hand. Society should change so that everyone who does something wrong is publicly identified."

Public opinion was divided. Some netizens who agreed with Yoon Ilsang commented, "The culture of destroying a person with unverified rumors is problematic," "It's true that malicious commenters are intoxicated with a sense of justice," and "Celebrities are human too; this is too cruel."

On the other hand, some netizens argued, "Celebrities have great influence, so stricter scrutiny is necessary," "Criticism and witch-hunting should not be equated," and "A real-name system could restrict freedom of expression."