Korean Job Discussion Forums

jinju · Joined: 22 Jan 2006

The piranhas have converged on Dave's ESL cafe and are looking for blood. I suggest anyone thinking of talking to these people, think twice. Theres only one way the media will spin your words, and if youve been here long enough, you know exactly how they will spin it. Obviously this goes double for any Korean reporter, but even the English guys still answer to the Man and the Man is Korean. The media has an agenda: SELL, baby, SELL. Nothing sells like an evil foreigner story.

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

One called me this morning from Canada wanting to speak to Kermo... Laughing

Hollywoodaction · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

Bah, a couple of teachers have given them a quote and it wasn't twisted as you say it would.

Ilsanman · Joined: 15 Aug 2003 Location: Bucheon, Korea

I wouldn't talk to a reporter anyways. They don't want to spread the truth. They want to spread their ideologies.

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Hell, for the right price I'll say whatever the reporters want.

"In ____, it's okay to touch like that."

"All the ____ here use drugs."

"I have ____ girlfriends in Korea."

Make me an offer, and we'll see about filling in some of these blanks for your news story.

Optimus Prime · Joined: 05 Jul 2007

Who do I call if I have info that may help? Is there a # to call?

Bramble · Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Location: National treasures need homes

Big_Bird · Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:42 pm Post subject:

kermo · Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:43 pm Post subject:

I've been asking myself what the point is too. I've been bombarded with requests from all sorts of media outlets and I'm absolutely hung-over (figuratively) and exhausted (my cell phone was ringing regularly until 3:30.)

At first I thought I might be doing something useful by explaining that he was just a regular, reasonably well-liked guy, and shedding some light on the process by which he was identified.

A very thoughtful and kind reporter for AP named Angela Doland talked with me for a long time last night. I asked her "Why am I talking to you? What's the purpose of all this?"

She replied "I guess the reason this story is so big is that Interpol has never taken this route before, and so we're guessing that there was something especially terrible about these pictures. It's also remarkable because he seemed to be such a normal guy."

In the end it's about curiosity and fear, I suppose. People are asking themselves whether it could happen in their own neighbourhoods, whether they know someone who could do this kind of thing.

I did try to say some useful things about foreigners and how they are perceived in Korea, as that's an angle that most foreign reporters wouldn't immediately understand.

I'm not angry at Korean reporters who say that more criminal records checks are needed. I wouldn't trust the current authorities to implement them in a sensible or effective way, but it's a step that's needed.

I am not interested in participating in any more interviews as I don't think I have anything else useful to say. I was frustrated at how careless some journalists were, particularly from the CBC (who called me at 1:30 and 3:30 am) and misquoted me, even after asking me to repeat myself over and over again, not able to concentrate on what I was saying or keep an accurate record.

Optimus Prime · Joined: 05 Jul 2007

kermo · Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:48 pm Post subject:

Bernard_Carleton · Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:51 pm Post subject:

Why? He didn't say anything worth deleting...

Kermo, you're letting this get to you... relax Wink

jinju · Joined: 22 Jan 2006

Swiss James · Joined: 26 Nov 2003 Location: Shanghai

chin up Kermo

James.

Bramble · Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Location: National treasures need homes

This is what I'm worried about. By rushing to judgment and discussing the case too freely, we may inadvertently say something that helps this Neil guy get away (if in fact he's guilty). I hope OP deletes that information in time.