Daegu Mayor Hong Jun-pyo to Daegu MBC: "If There Is Freedom to Report, There Is Also Freedom to Refuse Reporting"

Strong Response to Distorted Reporting on New Airport

Public Relations Officer's Statement: "Apologize"

On the 1st, Hong Jun-pyo, Mayor of Daegu, instructed at the executive meeting held in the large conference room of the Sanggyeok Office of Daegu City Hall to consider strong measures such as refusing coverage in response to distorted and disparaging media reports about city administration.

After receiving a report on the follow-up plan for the enactment of the special law by the Integrated New Airport Construction Headquarters, Mayor Hong said, “Recent reports by a certain broadcasting station in the Daegu area regarding the new airport are seriously distorted and disparaging. We have endured such reporting behavior for a long time, but if left unchecked any longer, it will trample on the hopes and efforts of the 5 million residents of Daegu and Gyeongbuk.” He ordered the New Airport Construction Headquarters to respond actively.

Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo is speaking at the Daegu City executive meeting.

Mayor Hong emphasized that distorted and biased reporting does not fall under the scope of freedom of the press, but rather constitutes misuse and abuse of press freedom, adding, “If there is freedom to report, there is also freedom to refuse coverage.” He ordered a strong response to all attempts to distort and disparage the Special Act on the New Airport.

Daegu City subsequently issued a statement under the name of the Public Relations Officer, claiming, “On April 30, Daegu MBC maliciously distorted facts and reported biasedly on the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport through its program Sisa Toktok,” and announced that it would refuse coverage by Daegu MBC.

Daegu City asserted, “Daegu MBC has continuously maliciously distorted and disparaged Daegu city administration through reports such as ‘Detection of Legionella bacteria in Daegu tap water’ and ‘Controversy over Mayor Hong Jun-pyo’s violation of election laws... spreading widely,’ which clearly violates the Constitution and related laws.”

It continued, “From the perspective of protecting the public’s right to know, we have maintained a principle of non-response to Daegu MBC’s reports so far, but this biased reporting on the new airport has reached an intolerable level. This act tramples on the hopes and efforts of the 5 million residents of Daegu and Gyeongbuk regarding the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport. We demand that Daegu MBC immediately issue an official apology and take appropriate measures acceptable to the 5 million residents.”

Daegu City reiterated its position that if this demand is not accepted, it will refuse all coverage requested by Daegu MBC and will not provide any assistance for coverage.

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