Unveiling the Controversy Behind ‘Yoon Government’s Control of Media’
Since the inauguration of the Yoon administration, attempts to control the media have been incessant. The nomination of Lee Jin-sook as the chairwoman of the Broadcasting and Communications Commission marks the peak of this endeavor. Five media outlets, including Hankyoreh, Newstapa, Media Today, Sisa-In, and OhmyNews, are collaborating on the ‘Cartel of Media Control’ series, delving into the state of media control under the current government.
Headlines set on ‘removing key figures’
Post Yoon’s presidency, Lee Jin-sook, head of the regime appointed by former President Moon, had over a year left in office. On June 16, 2022, then People Power Party floor leader Kwon Sung-dong met with reporters and commented on the position held by Lee, stating that simply sitting in that position signified ‘shamelessness,’ and that it would be desirable for him to gracefully resign. Yoon, the President, responded to a reporter’s question the next day, saying, “Do you think that (Lee) and Jeon Yeon-joo, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, cannot work together?”
“Is there a need to include irrelevant personnel and hold a cabinet meeting like that? (Reporter: Do you want him to resign?) Since he has (time) left in his term, he should be able to make his own judgement.”
Signalling ‘Media Domination’ with the Chairman of the Broadcasting and Communications Commission
Creating Chaos:
With the new Chairman taking office, an influx of media outlets, like KBS and MBC’s conservative-leaning labor unions, filed complaints against Lee for violating broadcasting laws on June 27. The subsequent months saw various activities, from the Fair Media Citizen Coalition filing complaints and petitions to the Prosecutor’s Office; audits were conducted, and investigati…
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Wrapping Up and Looking Forward
To summarize, the media landscape in South Korea has undergone significant turbulence since the inception of the Yoon administration. Controversies surrounding the control and oversight of media outlets have led to a series of legal battles and public debates. While the nation grapples with questions of press freedom and political interference, the role of civil society organizations and media groups in safeguarding journalistic integrity remains a hot topic.
Stay tuned as we continue to cover the evolving media landscape in South Korea.
Photography By: Han Kang-Soo (Hankyoreh), Park Jong-Hwa Yeondahye (NewsTapa), Park Jae-Yeong (Media Today), Moon Sang-Hyun (Sisa-In), Shin Sang-Ho (OhmyNews)
Journalist: turner@hani.co.kr
Source: The Hankyoreh News
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