Listen to the article
South Korean President Condemns Media Over Organized Crime Allegations Following Court Ruling
President Lee Jae Myung has sharply criticized South Korean media outlets for their coverage of allegations linking him to organized crime, following a definitive Supreme Court ruling against the opposition party official who made the claims.
In a statement posted on social media platform X on Saturday, Lee declared that “irresponsible media can be more dangerous than a weapon,” after the court upheld a lower court’s decision against Jang Young-ha, a People Power Party (PPP) official from Seongnam, Gyeonggi province.
The Supreme Court confirmed Jang’s sentence of one year in prison, suspended for two years, for violating the Public Official Election Act by spreading false information. Jang had previously served as legal counsel for Park Cheol-min, a member of a Seongnam-based criminal organization, and in October 2021 alleged that Lee had received approximately 2 billion won ($1.3 million) from the group during his tenure as Seongnam mayor in exchange for business favors.
President Lee expressed frustration that despite the court’s ruling, media organizations that had widely reported the allegations have failed to issue corrections or apologies.
“Media outlets that indiscriminately expanded and reported the baseless ‘Lee Jae Myung–gangster connection’ without verification have not issued a single apology or correction even after this ruling,” Lee wrote. “There has not even been a proper factual report, let alone a correction.”
The president’s ruling Democratic Party (DP) has rallied behind his criticism. Party floor spokesperson Baek Seung-ah said in a statement that many news organizations had eagerly reported the allegations when they first emerged but remained conspicuously silent after they were proven false.
“When the false claims first emerged, media outlets competed to report them,” Baek said. “But once the claims were shown to be untrue, they have remained silent, abandoning their responsibility.”
DP Representative Choo Mi-ae, who chairs the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee, echoed these sentiments on Facebook, writing that “the media that loudly spread lies have become extremely quiet in the face of the truth.”
The opposition PPP, however, has countered by questioning why similar standards aren’t being applied to allegations concerning a potential deal to drop criminal charges against President Lee. They specifically named pro-government broadcaster Kim Eo-jun, whose YouTube program initially raised allegations about prosecutors potentially dropping charges against Lee as part of a political arrangement.
PPP senior spokesperson Park Sung-hoon questioned the president’s selective criticism, suggesting that if irresponsible media is the issue, then the same scrutiny should apply to those spreading unverified claims about prosecution deals.
“If we follow the president’s own logic, isn’t Kim Eo-jun’s broadcast — where baseless allegations were echoed and spread — the very ‘weapon-like media’ he is referring to?” Park said. “The claim that the president’s case was dropped in exchange for changes to the prosecution’s investigative powers constitutes a grave criminal allegation that shakes the constitutional order.”
The PPP spokesperson also pointed out what they see as inconsistency in the DP’s approach to media accountability, noting that the ruling party filed a complaint only against a guest on Kim’s program who made the allegations, but not against Kim himself as the host.
The controversy highlights the increasingly polarized media landscape in South Korea, where allegations against political figures often become amplified across traditional and social media platforms before their veracity can be properly established. It also underscores the tension between freedom of the press and the responsibility to verify information, particularly in politically sensitive cases.
The PPP has called for an independent investigation into the allegations about prosecution deals, stating that “if the so-called deal to drop charges is truly fake news, it should be transparently clarified through a special prosecutor probe.”
This latest exchange occurs against the backdrop of ongoing political tensions in South Korea, where media coverage and its impact on public perception remain contentious issues in the nation’s democratic discourse.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
8 Comments
The court’s ruling affirms that false accusations, even from influential figures, will not be tolerated. It’s concerning to see how quickly such claims can spread through the media without proper verification. Responsible journalism is crucial in these sensitive cases.
The President’s strong rebuke of the media coverage is understandable. Unsubstantiated allegations can do serious damage, even when later proven false. Responsible journalism is crucial, especially in sensitive cases like this.
This ruling sends an important message that false accusations, even from political opponents, will not be tolerated. It’s concerning how quickly such claims can spread through the media without proper vetting.
You raise a good point. The media needs to be more diligent in verifying information, especially around high-profile political figures, before reporting it as fact.
This case highlights the need for media outlets to exercise more caution and fact-checking before reporting on serious allegations, even from officials. Rushing to publish unverified claims can undermine public trust and the integrity of the political process.
I agree. The media has a responsibility to the public to report accurately and avoid amplifying disinformation, even if it originates from political sources.
It’s good to see the court uphold the facts and rule against the false allegations. The media should be more responsible in their reporting, especially on sensitive political matters.
Agreed. Spreading unverified claims, even from officials, can undermine public trust. The media has a duty to report accurately and not amplify disinformation.