'Sewol Ferry Reporting Interference' Lee Jung-hyun, Final Verdict at Supreme Court

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Lee Jung-hyun (61, Independent), who was indicted for intervening in KBS coverage during the Sewol ferry disaster, will receive the final verdict from the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court's 3rd Division (Presiding Justice Lee Dong-won) will deliver the ruling on the appeal of Lee, who is charged with violating the Broadcasting Act, on the morning of the 16th. Previously, Lee was sentenced to one year in prison with a two-year probation in the first trial, but the sentence was reduced to a fine of 10 million won in the second trial. If the second trial's ruling is upheld by the Supreme Court, Lee will avoid the risk of losing his parliamentary seat.

A sitting member of the National Assembly who is sentenced to a fine of 1 million won or more for violating the Public Official Election Act, or who is sentenced to imprisonment or higher for crimes other than election law violations, will have their election invalidated.

Lee is accused of intervening in the editing of news coverage by calling Kim Si-gon, then KBS News Director, shortly after the Sewol ferry disaster in April 2014, when KBS was reporting on issues with the Coast Guard and government response and rescue efforts, saying "Please remove it from the news editing," and "Please re-record and produce it."

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