Korean media is being heavily criticized for its treatment of actor Kim Soo Hyun following the recent controversy surrounding the death of actress Kim Sae Ron.
This escalated after a controversial YouTube video by Lee Jin Ho on March 19 claimed that Kim Sae Ron was married and pregnant at the time of her passing.
The netizens furiously reacted, claiming that the clip was an attempt to discredit the actress Kim Sae Ron and distract attention from the actual controversy of Kim Soo Hyun.
A large number of fans expressed their displeasure on social media, claiming it to be disrespectful towards the late actress.
A stark difference in media coverage is shown in screenshots that were shared on theqoo.
Some users observed that there were very few articles when the first news of Kim Soo Hyun emerged, but after Lee Jin Ho released his video on Kim Sae Ron, the coverage exploded.
One of the comments netizens made was, "Well, of course, something like this gets published overnight. Unbelievable."
One user commented, "These trash reporters!" Another person said: 'When she was alive, they wrote slanted articles."
Read more: Kim Soo Hyun's Family Ties Under Scrutiny Amid Mysterious Connection with Lee Sa Rang Controversy
"Now that she is gone, nothing is the same. Everyone knows what the media is really like — who is even going to listen to them anymore?"
The reaction also involved strong jabs at journalists for their alleged insensitivity.
"As for these low-life media, don't they have any conscience for the deceased? They seem to have surrendered humanity, according to one comment."
One more said, "Journalists are just pushing it over the edge."
As the matter continues to develop, the media is once again under scrutiny for handling sensitive issues surrounding public figures.
The increasingly mismatched coverage has raised questions about the integrity of journalism and ethics versus sensationalism.
On the other hand, Kim Soo Hyun's fan meeting may lead him to a long journey facing trial as a billion-won penalty is speculated against him.
Even so, fans continue to scratch their heads at the Kim Sae Ron clip that appears to have gone viral after weeks of netizen criticism.
Both cases are ongoing, and many are left wondering how media organizations will reconcile the intricacies of covering such sensitive issues moving forward. This situation puts the media industry in a difficult situation.
