Kim Eo-jun on Lee Jae-yong's Parole Decision: "The Media Played the Role of a Mouthpiece"

Broadcaster Kim Eo-jun criticized the media's responsibility for Vice Chairman Lee's parole on his TBS radio show, "Kim Eo-jun's News Factory."
/Photo by TBS

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Seohyun] Broadcaster Kim Eo-jun argued for the "responsibility of the media" regarding the parole decision for Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong.

On the 10th, on his TBS radio show "Kim Eo-jun's News Factory," Kim mentioned Lee's parole, saying, "Most of our media did not even properly do what they could, and rather, a large number of media acted as mouthpieces in reverse."

Kim said, "There is a lot of talk about the global economy regarding Lee's parole, but it is because it is Lee and because it is Samsung that the parole happened," adding, "It is the result of Samsung going all-in on the parole."

He stated, "(Lee's parole) is not illegal. It is just very rare," and added, "Legally, parole is possible once the execution rate exceeds 50%."

He continued, "Once it falls within the legal scope, the issue becomes public opinion. If the (supportive) public opinion exceeds about 70-80%, the role politics can play is limited," explaining, "The problem is the media, which should have acted as a social barrier to restrain economic power."

Earlier, the Ministry of Justice Parole Review Committee approved Lee's parole on the 9th. Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye also approved the Parole Review Committee's decision.

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