[Itaewon Disaster] Press Association "Disaster Reporting Must Be Careful... Considering Sanctions for Sensational Coverage"

On the 30th, ahead of Halloween, large-scale crush disaster occurred in the Itaewon area. Bouquets were placed in the Itaewon area of Yongsan-gu, Seoul, to commemorate the victims. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] On the night of the 29th, the Korea Journalists Association urged its member media outlets to adhere to disaster reporting guidelines in their coverage related to the Itaewon tragedy. This was due to concerns over secondary damage caused by sensational or provocative reporting.

The association stated, "Since the tragedy, the media have rushed to the scene to report the news, but some media's sensational reports and unverified social network service (SNS) posts have caused confusion at the recovery site and inflicted secondary harm on victims and bereaved families." They requested, "We ask the association's executives and 199 branches nationwide to disseminate the association's disaster reporting guidelines to frontline reporters."

The disaster reporting guidelines emphasize that news about disaster situations should not cause confusion or anxiety, nor should it hinder disaster response or infringe on individual rights. These guidelines were voluntarily created by journalists following the 2014 Sewol ferry sinking tragedy. While it is important to provide accurate and timely disaster information, there is a risk that competitive reporting could escalate and cause additional harm, so the guidelines were established for self-regulation.

The association added, "In disaster cases, the shock to victims and their families is immense, so the media must strive to protect not only survivors but also bereaved families." They also requested the use of the "Disaster Reporting Guidelines for Trauma Prevention" currently being prepared by the National Trauma Center.

Kim Dong-hoon, president of the Journalists Association, said, "In a time when the entire nation is engulfed in deep sorrow, the media must exercise caution and provide refined reporting." He added, "We will consider strong disciplinary actions against member media outlets that engage in sensational and provocative reporting."

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