Robert E. Kelly (Professor)
Robert E. Kelly (Professor)
Dr. Robert Kelly is an assistant professor in the Political Science and diplomacy Department of Pusan National University. He specializes in international relations, political theory, international security, and international organization in East Asia.
Robert E. Kelly (Professor) has written for outlets including Foreign Affairs , the European Journal of International Relations , and The Economist , and he has spoken on television news services including BBC, CCTV, and Al Jazeera. [1]
Viral Interview with BBC [1]
Dr. Robert Kelly's four-year-old daughter toddling into his room, interrupting the interview
On March 10, 2017, Dr. Kelly appeared on BBC to discuss the removal of South Korean President Park Geun-hye from office. During the interview, Kelly's two children make an appearance.
The first child, his 4-year-old daughter opened the door and strolled into the room.
A second child, a 9-month-old baby boy, came in with a baby walker. [1]
Seconds later, his wife Jung-a Kim skidded around a corner and herded the children out the door at the same time. [1]
When the interview finished, broadcaster James Menendez said, 'There's a first time for everything. I think you've got some children who need you!'
Aftermath
Ellen Kelly (Robert Kelly's Grandmother)
Robert Kelly meme alluding to Seinfeld"The woman trying to get the kids out of Robert Kelly's BBC interview like..."
Robert Kelly's mother, Ellen, gave her opinions on the story.
She believes the kids may have thought they were talking to her and her husband on the computer.
Ellen and her husband Joe regularly Skype with Robert and his family in South Korea from their home in University Heights, Ohio. She says her favorite part of the interview was when his wife skids into the room.
James Menendez (BBC World Broadcaster)
BBC World broadcaster James Menendez tweeted the following after his interview with Robert Kelly:
"Having watched it back, all credit to [Robert E. Kelly] for keeping it going. Come back to [BBC World] soon, with or without your lovely family!"
Public
Robert Kelly meme: "Not now.
Many people have been debating whether Dr. Kelly should've embraced his child when she appeared right next to him and the BBC broadcaster acknowledged that one of his children appeared on-screen and interrupted his train of thought.
Others defended him, saying that he may have just been panicked by the sequence of the events on live television.
Second Interview (with Family)
One week after he got viral fame after his interview, Professor Kelly returned to BBC News to do an interview with the entire family.
He was joined in the follow-up video with his wife, Jung-a Kim and children Marion and James.
He confirmed that, despite online speculation, he was wearing trousers during the interview.
Jung-a states that she was recording the interview during the time the kids walked into his room.
Because there was a delay between what actually happened in the interview and what appears on television, Jung-a didn't storm into the room until she saw it on her television screen.
Professor Kelly blamed himself for not locking the door.
Career
Robert Kelly with his wife, Jung-a Kim (a yoga teacher), and their daughter Marion
Dr. Robert Kelly has been a professor at Pusan National University since 2008. He has appeared as a Korea analyst on several major television networks.
He currently has publications linked to his LinkedIn profile.
According to Ellen Kelly, his mother, he speaks 6 languages: English, German, French, Russian, Latin and classical Greek; he is 'almost' fluent in Korean.
Personal Life
Robert Kelly is one of three siblings.