`Moon Chang-keuk video` and confirmation hearing

A video clip filmed in 2011 at a church in Seoul is swaying Korean politics. The clip is not as interesting as Psy’s new music video, but the hour-long footage is very meaningful. On portal sites, the video is classified under the keyword “Moon Chang-keuk full video.” It is footage of Moon, the prime minister nominee, giving a special lecture to Christians at a church. The video showcases the nominee’s candid view of history and world.

It seems that someone at the church "proactively" sent the video to media outlets. An edited version of the video was aired on KBS on Wednesday last week. The preparatory team for Moon’s confirmation hearing claimed the “editing was malign and distorted,” and released the full version of the footage belatedly via YouTube and other channels.

Photos in the newspaper come with subtitles describing the images. Video clips also provide subtitles that are inserted by someone. The person who added subtitles could be the person who filmed the footage or someone who reproduced it.

The Moon Chang-keuk video also comes with subtitles. The subtitles inserted by the main opposition party are “descriptions of a figure who is anti-nationalistic and anti-historic.” The subtitle placed by the nominee’s side suggests, “He sought to tell that countless sufferings in Korea’s history were meant to help make our country stronger and richer.” Likewise, completely different subtitles have been inserted to describe the same footage.

The government submitted on Tuesday a bill to seek parliamentary approval on the appointment of Moon as prime minister. However, “public sentiment” already started advance inspection of the video outside the National Assembly. To confirm whether the video was edited malignly or whether it is a legitimate material for verification of Moon’s qualification, countless Korean citizens have already viewed it by taking time out of their busy daily schedule. Even if people have not openly expressed, they are internally taking their own positions on the nominee’s philosophy and capacities.

With advance of information technology, recording, interpretation and distribution of images have been made highly easy. Certain broadcasters frequently edit footages without giving consideration to people appearing on shows. Netizens have called "editing by the devil" the audition program ‘Super Star K." The reason is that the edited version includes images that are unfair. Now, sensitized people know of the reality of such situations. People nevertheless enjoy such programs, because even if such a show contains malicious editing, they would be able to critically analyze the skills, capabilities and essence of performers in the show.

Performers whose footages were edited will make appeal, saying that they have gotten wrong and unjustly victimized. They seek to excuse themselves by saying that the intended context is different, but such excuse is futile if it fails to move people’s heart. Video footages of remarks disparaging senior citizens by Chung Dong-young as presidential candidate in the past would be an example of this. If you are to win elections or pass parliamentary confirmation hearing, you are righteously advised to watch your words, writings and images from now.

It is hoped that Moon’s confirmation hearing proceeds as proposed. This confirmation hearing will offer citizens a chance to witness what logic politicians use to dodge facts and situations in their disfavor, and what kind of materials people in the opposition side take to put the other in trouble. The confirmation hearing process should be conveyed without editing to the entire population. Only then will democracy make advance in the Republic of Korea.