Online, many of the comments were sympathetic (“This is TV Gold!” said one), while others said
that Professor Kelly had “strong armed” one of the children when reached behind him to repel her advance, all while keeping his eye contact with the camera and continuing to speak.
Robert E. Kelly, a political-science professor at Pusan National University in South Korea, learned this the hard
way on Friday when he appeared as an expert on the BBC via Skype to discuss the South Korea impeachment scandal.
The interruption, almost slapstick if it had not been real, was over within 40 seconds, during which Professor Kelly veered from apparent mild annoyance to repeated apologies to stifling
smiles, while ultimately keeping his composure as he discussed the latest political drama underway in South Korea, where a court had removed President Park Geun-hye from office.
My apologies,” Professor Kelly said, closing his eyes
and smiling — or grimacing — as the sound of the objects toppling off the table and squeals of protest came from behind him.
He could not immediately be reached on Friday, but his online biography
and website, Asian Security Blog, notes his academic credentials and many contributions to scholarly publications and news organizations about North and South Korea.
