"Legal Stick Needed"... Hanyang University Students Protest Professor Junhee Jung's Remarks

Remarks on Pro-Government YouTube Channel 'Maebul Show' Spark Controversy
Hanyang University Student Posts Public Criticism of Junhee Jung
"Fascist Thinking Advocating Suppression of a Specific Generation"

Junhee Jung, a media scholar, is facing criticism for allegedly disparaging the younger generation after stating that people in their 20s "should be subdued not through rational persuasion but through power."

Junhee Jeong, Adjunct Professor in the Department of Information Society and Media at Hanyang University ERICA. YouTube

According to Financial News and other outlets on June 8, Junhee Jung, Adjunct Professor in the Department of Information Society and Media at Hanyang University ERICA, appeared on the pro-government YouTube channel 'Maebul Show' on June 5 to analyze exit poll results from the Seoul mayoral election. He remarked, "(People in their 20s) should be subdued through power, not persuasion," and added, "They must be made to follow the direction in which power is generally pushing, and I don't think it's possible to persuade them to support our power."

He continued, "We shouldn't think of them as entities competing with specific values, logic, or facts," and asserted, "They cannot be broken by facts, logic, or values." He then commented, "It is necessary to take up the stick in a legal way."

As these remarks spread through online communities and social networking services (SNS), criticism emerged within Hanyang University. On the anonymous student community 'Everytime,' a post was uploaded early on the 7th by someone claiming to be a Hanyang University student, titled "Strongly Condemning Professor Junhee Jung's Anti-Democratic and Violent Remarks." This student claimed, "Professor Jung demeaned and mocked the opinions of people in their 20s on the program by saying, 'Bbaeeaek, that's the attitude they want to take,' using crude language."

On the early morning of the 7th, an anonymous university student posted on the 'Everytime' community, identifying themselves as a current student at Hanyang University, with a post titled "Strongly Condemning Professor Junhee Jung's Undemocratic and Violent Remarks." Everytime

The student wrote, "In a sanctuary of intellect where diverse values coexist and rational debate takes place, it is appalling that a scholar who should respect pluralism and teach the essence of media openly revealed fascist thinking by advocating the suppression of a particular generation with 'sticks' and 'power' simply because their views differ." The student further criticized, "Such statements demonstrate that he sees students who seek to learn not as equals, but as objects of blind control and discipline."

The post continued, "Professor Junhee Jung's comments have insulted the entire student body and gravely damaged the reputation of our university," demanding an immediate and sincere public apology to the younger generation and current students. The student also questioned, "Is subduing the younger generation with power and violence truly your conviction as an educator?"

Comments on the post included reactions such as, "It's shocking that a professor would make such remarks," and "Most of his students are probably in their 20s, so you can imagine how he views his students." Professor Jung hosted the MBC current affairs program '100-Minute Debate' for about four years starting in 2020, and he currently runs the YouTube channel 'Junhee Jung's HashTV.'

Meanwhile, a comment made by host Wook Choi on the same program has also drawn attention. He argued, "The online community Ilbe (Ilgan Best Store) should be clearly criminalized through institutional means," adding, "Leaving it alone lets it become fun, turn into a culture, and move into the mainstream." He went on to say, "As this moves into the mainstream, the person they idolize is Chun Doo-hwan," and asserted, "When it comes to online crimes like this, tanks should be rolled over them."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.