NBC’s correspondent Joshua Cooper Ramo is said to have made the comments during the opening ceremony.
NBC Sports has issued an apology after a comment made by commentator Joshua Cooper Ramo during the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics angered the Korean people.
According to a report by MSN, “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.”
According to Jung Min-ho of The Korea Times, the comment angered locals. “His incorrect and insensitive comment about Korea’s history has enraged many of its people,” he wrote. “Tens of thousands of Koreans and non-Koreans alike have criticized Ramo and NBC Sports on their social media, urging them to correct this misinformation and apologize.”
One person wrote on Twitter, “Very disappointed with the NBC commentator Joshua Cooper Ramo during Olympic opening ceremony. How can he make such a historically and culturally insensitive comment? ‘Every Korean’ sure thanks Japan for colonizing the country??? How insulting!”
Another viewer said, “Apologize to Koreans! Koreans do not look to Japan as a positive example, especially based on Japan’s inhumane treatment toward Koreans during their illegal and immoral occupation.”
NBC issued an apology a few hours later via anchor Carolyn Manno on NBCSN on Saturday, according to the MSN report:
“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.”
