Imagine chasing ratings so hard that you accidentally invent a whole narrative. That's exactly what happened recently at Seoul Economic TV, and it didn't end well. 😬
The broadcaster sparked a huge controversy after airing a report claiming that Chinese buyers had "massively purchased" apartments in Seoul's fancy Gangnam District. Specifically, they alleged that Chinese buyers had snapped up 944 apartments, basically sweeping the market inventory. 🏠💸
But here's the plot twist: the numbers were way off. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung stepped in, calling the report "deliberately fabricated fake news" designed to "incite anti-China sentiment." According to official verification, the actual number of Chinese nationals who purchased apartment units in Gangnam between January and April this year was only five. Yes, you read that right—five versus 944! 📉
President Lee didn't hold back, criticizing the broadcaster during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday and insisting that those responsible should be held accountable. When the heat got too high, Seoul Economic TV finally issued a public apology on behalf of all its employees. 🙇♂️
In their statement, the broadcaster admitted that the production team focused too much on ratings and public attention, and their internal review process failed to stop the fake content from airing. They've since scrubbed the report from all their platforms, apologizing for the "discomfort and confusion" caused. 💻❌
In a world of instant updates and viral clips, this is a big reminder to always double-check the facts before hitting share. Stay savvy, friends! 🌍💬✨
Reference(s):
Seoul broadcaster apologizes after Lee condemns fake anti-China report
cgtn.com
