And let's hope that it takes its own implied advice about the way a media outlet should deal with nationalist boosterism, especially when it comes to Samsung, the company that owns the Joongang Ilbo.
Yet, this article, written by a man who knows from the inside why most Western foreigners I know find Arirang TV unwatchable, was a bold decision in being published, as it named names, and pulled no punches.
We need more of this to make foreigners find English-language news and media outlets seem at all professional and worth taking seriously.
I myself just turned down another request to go on Arirang TV, even though I was very sorry to the personal contact there who was doing the asking. She tried, but it wasn't her fault. Previous run-ins with the show's producers, personal experience from friends who've appeared there, as well as the generally vapid nature of the programming itself – these are what forced me to maintain my present line of "no" to going on Korean TV.
When I was asked to go on a "serious" talk show to talk about my photography back in 2003, the producer heard my mom was Korean and told me that I wasn't what they were looking for (meaning a "real" foreigner, e.g. no Korean Americans, or even halfsies like me).
Another time, some documentary film crew wanted to follow me around, but after they got the message that I wouldn't change my schedule for them, nor would I smile on cue, nor sing and dance, the calls stopped coming, which was just as well for me.
Most importantly, I don't think I belong in front of the camera as much as I do behind it. I think Arirang TV is bad enough, without my mug leaping out from behind the screen.
Yeech.
I'm happy making my own media, thanks very much. And the talk show I would have been on was scripted, like they all are.
No thanks.
Anyway, this is the type of journalism I like, and I think many other foreigners would appreciate.
Keep it up, please!