Choi Min-hee apologizes for likening reporters to “a pack of hyenas” ... “Wrong wording and thinking”

[Financial News] Choi Min-hee, a senior Supreme Council member of the DPK, formally apologized for referring to photo and video journalists at the National Assembly as “a pack of hyenas.” However, Choi gave no clear answer when asked whether she would have apologized even if the remark had not become public.
At a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Center on the 11th, Supreme Council member Choi said, “I apologize to the reporters who were hurt by my inappropriate wording,” adding, “On reviewing it again, I acknowledge that it was excessive and inappropriate.”
Supreme Council member Choi was reported to have posted photos of journalists covering events at the National Assembly in a private KakaoTalk group chat joined by supporters and acquaintances on the 5th, writing “a pack of hyenas.” When other participants reacted with surprise, Choi added, “Journalists from media outlets covering the National Assembly. They’re doing that to get footage that will sow discord, one way or another.”
Explaining the remarks, Supreme Council member Choi said, “I was frustrated that internal party divisions over allegations of a secret three-way alliance involving Shincheonji had not been resolved, and that some media outlets were dismissing even legitimate questions as conflict and division.” Choi added, “It was a private, closed network, so I shared a momentary feeling with people close to me.”
Questions about the sincerity of the apology continued after the press conference. Asked, “Do you still think of reporters as hyenas?”, Choi replied, “It was the wrong wording and the wrong thought.” But when asked, “Would you not have been willing to apologize if it hadn’t been leaked?”, Choi said, “How should I answer that question?” and added, “There are so many conversations in that chat room that I don’t even consider it important that I wrote that post.”
In a statement, the Korea Photojournalists Association said, “Dismissing legitimate reporting as political efforts to sow discord and ridiculing journalists by comparing them to animals is a clear insult to the press,” and called for a responsible explanation and steps to prevent a recurrence. Supreme Council member Choi said she had requested a meeting with the photo and video journalists’ association.
The opposition also joined in the criticism. Jeong Jeom-sig, floor leader of the People Power Party, said, “Calling journalists a pack of hyenas? What an absurd, abusive remark,” and criticized the DPK, saying, “Its hatred of the media has surfaced again.” Park Choong-kwon, the People Power Party’s chief spokesperson, said, “The plan is to cover up the wrongdoing and look for the whistleblower first,” and called for action by the party.
Lee Gi-in, chair of the Reform Party’s emergency committee, also criticized the remark, saying, “Politicians may feel uncomfortable with photos and videos that put them in an unfavorable light, but that discomfort cannot be a reason to insult journalists doing their job.”

[email protected] Kim Kyung-min Reporter