(주: <코리아 타임즈>를 읽다 재미있는 기사를 발견했습니다. 지난해 언론을 달군 최고 화제의 주인공이 구당 선생이었다는 얘기였습니다. 방통위 발표 기사를 재미있게 재구성했더군요. 국민의 건강과 인류의 행복을 위해 험난한 여정을 계속해온 구당 선생을 그립게 만드는 기사였습니다. 매년 15만명 이상의 노인들에게 무료 침뜸 진료를 해주셨고, 수 많은 생명을 구해온 구당 선생은 이제 고향인 한국에서 면허를 정지당하는 능욕을 당한 채, 미국에서 떠도는 신세가 되셨습니다. 소중한 사람들을 왜 이 땅에서 자꾸 등지게 만드는지요. 국도 못드시고 이국에서 상심하고 계실 구당 선생님 생각에.. 너무도 가슴이 아픈 설날입니다.) By Jane Han Staff Reporter The Nov. 29 episode of MBC television news magazine show ``News Who'' featured legendary acupuncturist Kim Nam-soo, his miraculous works of healing ― and why the 93-year-old's license was temporarily suspended. It was also a show that picked up the highest number of complaints from viewers, together with two other segments aired by KBS and SBS, which likewise covered Kim's practice. The country's broadcasting regulator said Tuesday that almost 400 complaints were collectively filed against the three shows last year. This is far more than the number of problems raised against ``Mnet 20's Choice Awards'' (84) and Mnet's ``M Countdown'' (75), which were ranked second and third on the Korea Communication Commission's (KCC) 2008 viewer complaint list. So what did viewers dislike about the way the programs dealt with Kim? The first of the three shows, which was aired on KBS Sept. 13, triggered the controversy, with its positive depiction of the acupuncturist's moxibustion treatment apparently the biggest problem. Moxibustion involves heating acupuncture needles with mugwort herb for various treatments. Kim is licensed to practice acupuncture, but unauthorized to give moxibustion treatment, the Association of Korean Oriental Medicine (AKOM) argued. It also said that Kim should not teach ordinary people the complex method as only professionally trained individuals should practice the art. The group suspended Kim for nearly two months. MBC and SBS then aired follow-up reports in November and December, respectively, which delved into the details of the controversy surrounding Kim's world of acupuncture and moxibustion. The shows listed dozens of notable figures, including former President Kim Young-sam, former Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Hak-soo and celebrated author Jo Jung-rae, who were successfully treated by Kim. The MBC segment even showed popular actress Jang Jin-young, who is fighting stomach cancer, give testimony of her improving condition after being treated by the acupuncturist. The two episodes generated solid ratings past the 10 percent mark, but the KCC says they were also the reason why viewer complaints went up sharply in November and December, compared to the previous months. Comments left on the three networks' forums show that some viewers criticized the ``biased portrayal'' of Kim's power of healing, but many pointed out that it was in fact the members of the Oriental medicine group, who are competitors of Kim, who were bashing the veteran doctor. jhan@koreatimes.co.kr