Kim Ki-hyun and Kim Yeon-kyung who gave a ‘thumbs up’
“Bread sister, were you a rightist?” rush of blame
“Say thanks to Wen” Controversy Summoned
The appearance of volleyball player Kim Yeon-kyung taking a picture with Rep. Kim Ki-hyun, the people’s power runner, has been released, and opposition supporters are running out of complaints. Among them, the controversy caused by forcing Kim Yeon-kyung, who achieved the ‘four-final myth’ at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, to say “Thank you to President Moon Jae-in” is being re-examined.
Rep. Kim shared a photo taken with Kim Yeon-kyung on the social network service (SNS) Facebook on the 27th. In the released photo, Kim Yeon-kyung is showing her thumbs up. According to Congressman Kim’s side, the meeting took place at a meeting with acquaintances whom he knew well.
Rep. Kim said, “I had a comfortable evening with familiar faces after a long time.”
Since then, criticism from pro-ya propensity netizens has flooded Kim Yeon-kyung’s YouTube channel and various SNS such as Instagram. “Bread sister, was she right wing? It’s disappointing”, “Two-shot sister got goosebumps”, “You’re doing well, but why do you need the power of the people”, “I always liked it, but it’s a pity”, and “Go to the Taegeukgi rally”.
The reaction of netizens like this has been expanded to the controversy over ‘political freedom’. It was pointed out that it is inappropriate to criticize the political freedom guaranteed by the Constitution because it is different from their own inclinations.
Among them, it has been confirmed that some netizens are bringing back the controversy caused by forcing Kim Yeon-kyung, who returned home after achieving the semifinal myth at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, to thank President Moon, who was in office as the moderator of the press conference at the time. They also added the argument that “Kim Yeon-kyung has no choice but to be a right-winger.”
At the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team Press Conference held at Incheon International Airport on August 9, 2021, Vice Chairman of the Hong Division Committee of the Korea Volleyball Association, who hosted the event, said, “Player Kim Yeon-kyung, please stay.” called up Afterward, at a press conference held by Kim Yeon-kyung, the moderator asked, “Do you know that the reward money is the best ever prepared?” “There’s a lot of encouragement money pouring in,” she said, adding that she “please say thank you.”
In response, Kim Yeon-kyung replied, “It seems that we are in a very good mood for giving you a reward. I want to say thank you to everyone.” Then, Kim Yeon-kyung responded to the reporters’ questions for about 10 minutes. After her Q&A, the moderator suddenly started referring to ‘President Moon Jae-in’ to Kim Yeon-kyung.
He said, “President Moon Jae-in called each of our players by name and encouraged them about the performance of our female volleyball players,” and “Did you answer that?” In response, Kim Yeon-kyung said, “What do I dare to say to the President…”
However, the moderator again urged President Moon to express his gratitude, saying, “Today’s opportunity (to express thanks), the seat has come.” Kim Yeon-kyung said, “Didn’t you do it now?”, but the moderator said, “One more time.” In the end, Kim Yeon-kyung said, “Thank you,” and the moderator was satisfied saying, “That’s right.”
After the press conference, the Korea Volleyball Association website was flooded with criticism. Vice Chairman Yoo, who was in charge of the moderator, resigned from the position of Vice Chairman of Public Relations, and Oh Han-nam, president of the Korea Volleyball Association, also posted an apology. Chairman Oh promised, “I apologize once again for causing concern to the public, and I will do my best to prevent this from happening again in the future.”
Hong Min-seong, Hankyung.com reporter mshong@hankyung.com
