NBC apologizes for analyst’s remark
NEW YORK — NBC apologized to South Koreans for an on- air remark by an analyst Joshua Cooper Ramo that cited Japan as an example that has been important to the country’s own transformation.
Ramo made the remark during NBC’s coverage of the opening ceremony. He was noting the significance of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit.
“Every Korean will tell you that Japan is a cultural and technical and economic example that has been so important to their own transformation,” Ramo said.
An online petition quickly circulated, reaching more than 10,000 supporters Sunday. It demanded an apology, and NBC complied Saturday on NBCSN and formally to the Pyeongchang Olympic organizing committee.
Japan occupied Korea from 1910 to 1945. Petitioners said anyone familiar with Japanese treatment of Koreans during that time would be deeply hurt by Ramo’s remark. They also criticized the accuracy of giving Japan credit for South Korea’s resurgence. Ramo, a former journalist at Time magazine, is co- CEO at Kissinger Associates and had been hired temporarily by NBC to bring historical context to its coverage. The network said his assignment at the Olympics is now over.