"Newspaper Circulation Manipulation as a National Fraud, Prompt Investigation and Recovery Needed"

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] The Democratic Party of Korea on the 11th called for a swift and strict investigation into allegations of circulation manipulation by some media outlets, revealed through an internal whistleblower from the ABC Association, along with a thorough recovery of government subsidies and advertising fees obtained through inflated circulation figures.

Members of the Democratic Party’s Media and Press Coexistence Task Force (TF) held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office that morning, stating, "Along with a prompt investigation by the authorities, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) must quickly announce reform measures. Furthermore, any unjust receipt of government subsidies and advertising fees based on manipulated and inflated circulation figures must be thoroughly investigated and immediately recovered."

Previously, in December last year, an internal whistleblower from the ABC Association submitted a petition to the MCST alleging that the paid circulation figures of some media outlets had been manipulated. The MCST is currently conducting an investigation. No Woong-rae, the TF leader and Supreme Council member, criticized, "Manipulation of paid circulation by established media outlets is a betrayal of their social responsibility as public airwaves and an act of deceiving the public."

No said, "The MCST’s on-site inspection of some branches of Chosun Ilbo revealed that the paid circulation was about 50%, nearly half of the 98% paid circulation figure publicly announced by the ABC Association. Based on this, of the 1.16 million paid copies of Chosun Ilbo reported in 2019, only about 580,000 were actual paid circulation."

He added, "As a result, government subsidies were unjustly paid based on the manipulated inflated circulation, and advertising rates from the government and private companies were overestimated. According to calculations based on the MCST investigation, Chosun Ilbo is estimated to have unjustly received at least 2 billion KRW in government subsidies over the past five years through circulation figures inflated by more than double."

Furthermore, "Considering that government advertising grades are determined based on inflated circulation figures, the total amount Chosun Ilbo unjustly received, including public service advertising fees, is expected to reach hundreds of billions of KRW. The collusion between the ABC Association and newspapers and the resulting circulation manipulation is a clear fraud against the public and an act that undermines trust in the media industry," he added.

They urged for a swift and strict investigation by the authorities and a prompt announcement of reform measures by the MCST.

The TF stated, "Recently, civic groups such as the Minsheng Economy Research Institute have filed complaints against the ABC Association and Chosun Ilbo for circulation manipulation. The investigative authorities must promptly begin their investigation. Delays will only give the ABC Association and related newspapers time to conceal evidence. The investigation should start with the 24 branches that were the basis for the circulation manipulation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.