Yoon Ji Oh Shares Opinion After News Anchor Is Criticized For Asking Her Probing Questions

Mar 19, 2019

On March 18, Yoon Ji Oh appeared on MBC’s “Newsdesk” to talk about the late Jang Ja Yeon’s sexual abuse case.

After the broadcast, news anchor Wang Jong Myung was criticized by the public for probing the actress to mention the names of people involved in the case.

The next day, Yoon Ji Oh took to her Instagram to reveal her thoughts. Below is the full translation of her statement:

Hello, this is Yoon Ji Oh.

First of all, I deemed it right to tell you about the current situation, so I am writing this with the approval of MBC news anchor Wang Jong Myung.

Yesterday, I answered the questions that were asked during the live broadcast of MBC’s “Newsdesk” that took place after I attended a trial as a witness and explained why I cannot mention specific names.

It is true that I was given direct questions about specific people in four different instances. I was asked about the other witness at the trial, other celebrities, three people related to a news outlet, and a member of the National Assembly.

I cannot reveal [names] because I’ve lived as a witness until now, and the moment I mention names, I will be sued for defamation and punished regardless of the truth. They have the power to do that. I can only give you this answer, and that’s why I gave this answer at the end of the interview. After my response, the interview was over.

As a news anchor, [Wang Jong Myung] was most likely doing his best to ask the questions the citizens are curious about, and I don’t blame him because he probably did not clearly know about my current situation and what’s going on.

I have been receiving such questions both online and offline over the last 10 years, so I am not as psychologically in pain as everyone worries I might be. I’ve become a lot stronger.

The anchor sent me a text message, but I fell asleep in the morning, so I had a phone call with him after getting up in the afternoon. He personally apologized to me through the message and phone call. I feel apologetic for unintentionally causing harm to his long-time career as a news anchor, and I’m sorry for making everyone worry.

After that, I was able to complete an interview with reporter Lee Sang Ho while smiling, and I am currently doing what I have to do with a smile on my face.

I hope all interviews that follow will respect the position of the witness.

I apologize for causing concern again, and I would like to thank you for the interest in me as well as the anchor.

Watch article on Instagram

안녕하세요. 윤지오입니다. 우선 이렇게 또 상황에 대해서 말씀을 드리는것이 맞다고 생각하여 MBC 왕종명 앵커님의 동의하에 글을 기재합니다. 어제 뉴스데스크에 법정 증언후 MBC 생방송에 임하면서 발생된 질문과 제가 인물에 대한 언급을 하지 못할 수 밖에 없는 이유에 대해서 답변해 드렸었고요. 한차례가 아닌 증인으로 출석된 인물 연예인의 이름 신문사 3명 국회의원 총 4차례에 인물에 대한 직접적인 질문을 주신것은 사실입니다. 제가 말씀을 드리지 못하는 부분은 현재까지 목격자이며 증언자로 살아왔는데 이름을 언급하는 순간 저는 사실여부와 상관 없이 명예훼손피의자로 탈바꿈되어질테고 처벌을 받아야하는 것은 당연해질 사안입니다. 그들은 그럴 힘을 가졌으니까요. 이런 답변 밖에 드릴 수 없는 저의 입장을 인터뷰 끝에 드릴 수 밖에 없었고 제 답변이후에 인터뷰가 종료되었습니다. 뉴스를 맡은 진행자로서는 당연히 국민분들께서 알고자하는 질문들을 하기위해 애써주셨을테고 현재 제 상황이나 정황을 제대로 모르셨을테니 그럴 수도 있다고 생각해요. 왕종명 앵커님 뿐만아니라 지난 10년동안 그런 질문은 온라인 오프라인을 통해서 하루에도 몇십차례 듣기 때문에 여러분이 우려해주시는 정신적인 고통은 일반인에 비해 낮습니다. 저 많이 강해졌거든요. 앵커님께서 문자를 보내주셨고 제가 아침에 잠들어서 점심에 일어나자마자 통화를 하였고 문자와 통화로 직접 사과해주셨습니다. 오랜 시간 언론인으로서 살아오셨던 앵커님의 커리어에 본의 아니게 해를 끼쳐드린것 같아 저로서도 죄송한 마음이고 여러분들께 우려심을 갖게 해드려서 죄송해요. 그후에도 웃으면서 이상호 기자님 인터뷰도 잘 맞췄고요. 현재도 저는 웃으면서 제가 할일을 열심히 하고있습니다. 앞으로 모든 인터뷰가 목격자와 증언자의 입장을 먼저 헤아리고 이뤄질 수 있었으면 바람합니다. 다시한번 심려 끼쳐드린것 같아서 죄송하고 저에게 또 앵커님께 가져주시는 관심에도 감사의 말씀을 전하고 싶습니다. . . . #MBC #뉴스데스크 #왕종명 #앵커 #증인 #증언자 #윤지오

Writer 윤지오 (@ohmabella) share on March 18, 2019 on 8:50pm PDT

Updated March 19 KST:

At the beginning of the March 19 broadcast of MBC’s “Newsdesk,” Wang Jong Myung apologized to Yoon Ji Oh and viewers after the controversy. He stated, “Yesterday I held an interview on ‘Newsdesk’ with Yoon Ji Oh, a fellow actress of the late Jang Ja Yeon. While asking questions, I asked her for the real names of the influential figures who appear on Jang Ja Yeon’s list. There was much criticism from viewers saying that I had not showed consideration for the show’s guest during this process.”

Previously, “Newsdesk” released an official apology about the incident. The production team stated, “We invited Yoon Ji Oh, a fellow actress of the late Jang Ja Yeon, to the studio for a live interview yesterday on ‘Newsdesk.’ During the interview, anchor Wang Jong Myung repeatedly asked her to reveal the real name of a politician, and there was much criticism from viewers who said this was a rude and inappropriate question that showed no consideration for the guest.”

“Anchor Wang Jong Myung and the production team of ‘Newsdesk’ has taken on the criticisms from viewers with a heavy heart and directly apologized to Yoon Ji Oh. Also, we plan to apologize to viewers directly through ‘Newsdesk’ today.” The show promised to listen to viewers’ criticism and be a news program that they can depend on.

Source: Soompi