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Ruling Party Aide Cites Fabricated Post to Defend Baseball Players, Sparks Outcry
🇰🇷 South Korea /Culture & Society

Ruling Party Aide Cites Fabricated Post to Defend Baseball Players, Sparks Outcry

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • A ruling party policy aide in South Korea shared a fabricated post attributed to a high school baseball player, defending the player's controversial on-field cheer.
  • The aide praised the fabricated post as more mature than adults and apologized on behalf of the older generation.
  • The post, which claimed an apology was received from the opposing team, was later revealed to be fake, causing controversy.

A policy aide for South Korea's ruling People Power Party has ignited controversy by sharing a fabricated social media post attributed to a high school baseball player. The aide, Lee Sang-kyu, used the post to defend players from Seoul's Baejae High School, who were criticized for their on-field cheer, "Let's go to Starbucks." Lee posted on Facebook that the author of the shared post was "more mature than Oh Se-hoon, more mature than Lee Sang-kyu." He added, "As the older generation, I reflect. Thank you, Gwangju High School student. The future of our country is bright."

However, the post Lee shared was identified as a fake that circulated online shortly after the incident on March 29. The fake post, purportedly from Gwangju Jeil High School student Kim Min-hyuk, claimed that the Baejae High players had personally apologized to their juniors. It stated, "Since there was a sincere apology, we also want to understand their feelings and move on positively."

As the older generation, I reflect. Thank you, Gwangju High School student. The future of our country is bright.

— Lee Sang-kyuLee Sang-kyu's Facebook post defending the baseball players.

The controversy highlights the spread of misinformation and its use in political discourse, even when the information's veracity is questionable.

Since there was a sincere apology, we also want to understand their feelings and move on positively.

— Fake post attributed to Kim Min-hyukContent of the fabricated social media post shared by Lee Sang-kyu.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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