Reporter at center of national attention for being 'rude'to president

KBS reporter Song Hyeon-jeong asks a question to President Moon Jae-in during a TV interview on Thursday. Screengrab of KBS

By Oh Young-jin

KBS reporter Song Hyeon-jeong is taking a great deal of flak for her alleged lack of respect during a televised one-on-one interview with President Moon Jae-in on Thursday night.

Such is the controversy that Song has found herself in the crosshairs of ideological warfare between the liberals and conservatives, pushing the story to the top 10 on news portal Naver.

Song occasionally cut President Moon in mid-sentence when he showed signs of procrastinating during the 86-minute live interview aired on the state-run channel.

She also quoted the conservative opposition Liberty Korea Party calling the liberal president a "dictator" for his alleged role in the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's fast-track action on Moon's key campaign pledge to establish an anti-corruption agency targeting high-ranking public servants.

Moon supporters flooded the chat boards at KBS and Cheong Wa Dae presidential office with snide comments about Song being not just impolite but hostile to the head of state.

Some pointed out that Song wore a long face throughout the program and turned it into an interrogation rather than an interview.

As of Friday morning, more than 10,000 had joined a presidential petition against Song.

But Song has her supporters. They argued that she did a good job as a reporter asking questions on the behalf of the people. Some conservative commentators praised her courage.

On the internet, personal information such as her age, alma mater and family were revealed. One blog posted her wedding invitation from 2010 and revealed her husband's job.

Song is leader of the KBS team covering the National Assembly. She was chosen for the presidential interview through the broadcaster's internal procedures.

Site Map E-paper Subscribe Register LogIn
Site Map E-paper Subscribe Register LogIn