A Korean variety program featuring Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and chair of the Gates Foundation, has unexpectedly become a target for “vaccine conspiracy theorists.”
On August 24, videos of Gates uploaded to the official YouTube channel of tvN’s variety show You Quiz on the Block drew a flood of hostile comments from netizens who subscribe to vaccine conspiracy theories. Many of the comments claimed that Gates’ visit to Korea was connected to a supposed plan for forced vaccination.
One commenter even wrote: “Bill Gates is the devil who caused countless deaths and side effects with his fake COVID vaccines.” Others mocked him as “Kill Gates,” while directing attacks at the show’s host Yoo Jae-suk, calling him “a leftist” and even complaining that he “didn’t smile when former President Yoon Suk-yeol appeared on the program.”
The Gates Foundation—established by Gates and his ex-wife Melinda—has long focused on global health initiatives such as malaria vaccines and treatments for drug resistance, which has also made it a frequent target of conspiracy theorists. Especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, far-right groups like QAnon in the U.S. and conservative evangelical Christians have spread claims that Gates was trying to reduce the world’s population through the virus and vaccines, or implant microchips for surveillance.
In Korea as well, the pandemic spurred similar conspiracy theories among far-right evangelical circles. Some pastors spread baseless rumors that the vaccines were engineered by altering DNA to control citizens, urging followers to refuse vaccination.
One prominent figure was Choi Ba-ul, head of InterCP, the missionary group that ran BTJ Center for All Nations in Sangju, North Gyeongsang Province—later linked to a mass COVID outbreak. He publicly accused Gates of being behind the pandemic, saying things like: “COVID-19 was a conspiracy by Gates,” and “If you get the vaccine, the world becomes their slaves.”
Public health experts, however, emphasize that vaccine conspiracy theories have no scientific basis and instead undermine public trust and vaccination rates, ultimately threatening public health.
Bill Gates, known globally as a billionaire philanthropist and the man who helped usher in the PC era through Microsoft, now focuses on global health, education, climate change, and poverty reduction through his foundation. Recently, he announced plans to donate 99% of his personal wealth, combined with the Gates Foundation’s funds—an estimated $200 billion (about 280 trillion KRW)—back to society by 2045.
The episode featuring Gates is scheduled to air on August 25.
submitted by /u/coinfwip4
[link] [comments]
