'National DJ' Bae Chul-soo Critiques Martial Law Situation on 'Bae Camp'

On the evening of December 4, 2024, during a live broadcast of MBC's radio program 'Bae Chul-soo's Music Camp' (배철수의 음악캠프), renowned singer and DJ Bae Chul-soo addressed the ongoing martial law situation, offering words of comfort to listeners grappling with the aftermath.

Bae opened the show with a poignant message, stating, "When people are shocked, they often stumble over their words. Their minds become chaotic, leading to a loss of language skills. Subjects and predicates disappear, and unnecessary modifiers take over, creating a jumbled mess. In absurd situations, those who manage to use proper language can seem even stranger."

He continued, "Those who prefer concise writing often dismiss adverbs as superfluous, but after last night’s unexpected turmoil, I found myself grateful for the abundance of adverbs in our language. Mark Twain famously advocated for the elimination of adverbs, yet last night, I found myself overwhelmed with questions like 'Really? Why? What on earth? Absolutely?' as I struggled to get through the night."

Bae also noted, "In proper language use, adverbs are often treated as unnecessary. While we are encouraged to avoid profanity, we know from experience that sometimes, such expressions can help us cope with the absurdities of reality."

For the first song of the night, Bae chose the original version of 'Insomnia' by Craig David, which has been widely popularized in South Korea through a remake by singer Wheesung (휘성). The meaning of 'Insomnia' resonates with the current situation, and listeners responded positively, expressing their relief that 'Bae Camp' could provide comfort during these times. Bae humorously remarked, "I also didn’t sleep much, but compared to you all, I feel like I got a lot of rest."

'Bae Camp' has been a staple pop music program in South Korea since its debut on March 19, 1990, and continues to be beloved by listeners for its legendary voice and expertise.

In related news, President Yoon Suk-yeol declared a nationwide martial law at 10:29 PM on December 3, 2024, from the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul. Following this, a motion to lift the martial law was unanimously passed by 190 members of the National Assembly, leading to its official repeal at 5:40 AM on December 4.