The Korea Herald

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Showbiz program under fire for airing celebrity’s suicide attempt

Broadcasting CCTV containing a celebrity’s suicide attempt sparks criticism

By Korea Herald

Published : May 26, 2013 - 16:15

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(KBS2) (KBS2)



Entertainment Weekly, a showbiz program on state-run KBS2 network came under fire for airing footage showing a singer’s attempted suicide. 

The program delivered news on Son Ho-young’s suicide attempt on Saturday, using the surveillance video installed on the scene. In the segment, a vehicle was set on fire and Son was seen to be trying kill himself by burning a toxic substance, followed by firefighters taming the fire and the singer rushed to the hospital. 

As the program was aired with all the shocking images, Korean fans expressed discomfort and attacked the network for “not being respectful of one’s right and privacy.” They said such footage might incite other people to commit “copycat suicides.” 

The weekly entertainment program has recently suffered a series of setbacks including blunders involving a member of the popular boy group Infinite H and the late singer Lim Yoon-taek of the music band Ulala Session.

From news reports
(knews@heraldcorp.com)