NBC apologizes to Korean people after correspondent's 'ignorant, 'insensitive' comment

NBC apologizes to Korean people after correspondent's 'ignorant, 'insensitive' comment




NBC apologizes to Korean people after correspondent's 'ignorant, 'insensitive' comment

Olympics Wire
Chris Chase16 hrs ago



Sports stars spotted playing a different sport

© Getty GettyNBC Sports has apologized for an incendiary comment made during Friday's Opening Ceremony led to widespread anger and tens of thousands of angry social media posts.

In the booth with Mike Tirico and Katie Couric, NBC Asian correspondent Joshua Cooper Ramo said that "every Korean" respected Japan for their recent achievements as a nation, insinuating that South Korea had forgotten about the 35 brutal years of Japanese rule that ended after World War II.

"His incorrect and insensitive comment about Korea's history has enraged many of [Korea's] people," wrote Jung Min-ho in The Korea Times.

NBC issued an apology a few hours later. In a statement read live on NBCSN early Saturday morning, anchor Carolyn Manno said:

"During our coverage of the Parade of Nations on Friday we said it was notable that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made the trip to Korea for the Olympics, "representing Japan, a country which occupied Korea from 1910 to 1945 but every Korean will tell you that Japan is a cultural, technological and economic example that has been so important to their own transformation." We understand the Korean people were insulted by these comments and we apologize."