By Kim Tae-jong
Being complimented in public can be exhilarating and embarrassing at the same time.
That happened to this reporter during a news conference by MAN Truck & Bus (MTB) Korea, Wednesday, for the launch of the Munich-headquartered firm’s new flagship truck, the TGX EfficientLine.
“The Korea Times, I read it almost every day. Sorry that I can’t read Korean newspapers,” Thilo Halter, CEO of MTB Korea, said in recognition after the reporter identified himself before asking a question.
This prevented, at least temporarily, an answer to the original question on his view about the Korean market’s importance.
About 30 reporters at the conference were caught off guard when their host expressed his preference for one particular media outlet.
Reflecting on the situation, however, his compliment about The Korea Times appears to be little exaggerated.
Halter came here in July with the mission to develop Korea into a strategic market for the truck manufacturer. The Korean branch was recently expanded to serve as the headquarters of the East Asian region.
For him, the Times and other English-language newspapers are a key source of information. Halter just highlighted their role, which made this reporter feel more responsibility to serve our readers better.
A public pat on the back can make one feel good but two things are also as obvious.
One, it was a tad embarrassing to hear it in front of other reporters as if an honor student were called out in front of classmates for a citation. The second was it wouldn’t buy MTB any better coverage than it deserves.
Still, it can’t be denied that compliments are easier on the ears than criticism.
For that, no complaints about the interpreter who left little lost in translation.