President Lee Responds to SBS Labor Union's Objection: "Freedom of the Press Does Not Mean Privilege"

SBS Union Protests President Lee's Demand for Apology Over 'Unanswered Questions' Report
President Lee: "Media That Distorts Facts for Political Purposes Must Bear Greater Responsibility"
Blue House Requests Follow-up Reports After Supreme Court

On March 22, President Lee Jaemyung stated, "Freedom of the press does not mean press privilege," emphasizing that media outlets which distort facts and spread falsehoods for political purposes should bear greater responsibility proportional to the negative impact they cause. This statement is seen as a continuation of his recent calls for follow-up reports and accountability from the media following the Supreme Court's final ruling that allegations of mafia ties were false.

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In a post on X (formerly Twitter) that day, President Lee wrote, "Rights come with obligations, and freedom comes with responsibility. Truth and justice are the lifeblood of democracy, and while the Constitution prohibits the establishment of privileges, it grants special protection to the press on the premise of honest and fair reporting." He added, "However, freedom of the press does not mean press privilege."

President Lee continued, "If the press shirks its responsibility for honest and fair reporting, distorts facts, and spreads lies for political purposes, it is only fair that the media should bear greater responsibility than ordinary people, given the negative consequences. Bearing responsibility and obligations along with freedom and rights aligns with the Constitution's prohibition of privilege and is also consistent with common sense and fairness." He further stressed, "Freedom without responsibility infringes on the freedom of others and, in the end, even harms one's own freedom and rights."

President Lee also cited a social media post by historian Jeon Wooyong, which stated, "When President Lee, who was a victim of the fabricated report by SBS’s 'Unanswered Questions,' demanded an apology regarding the report, the SBS labor union strongly objected, claiming it was an 'infringement of press independence.'" Jeon argued, "Whether a prosecutor fabricates a case for indictment or a reporter fabricates a case for news coverage, both are, in essence, the same wrongdoing." He added, "Before condemning the president, the SBS union should reflect on why the Yoon Suk Yeol prosecutorial dictatorship did not order a power or water cutoff against SBS."

The Blue House announced on March 19 that both the 'mafia ties allegations' and the '2 billion won bribery allegations' against President Lee had been confirmed as false, and requested follow-up reports to clarify the facts so that public misunderstandings would be resolved and his damaged reputation could be restored. The following day, on March 20, President Lee directly pointed to the SBS current affairs program 'Unanswered Questions,' which had previously addressed the 'mafia ties allegations,' stating, "This broadcast appears to be part of a campaign to eliminate me, including physical violence, judicial risks fabricated through the prosecution, and image-damaging operations by the media." He also publicly demanded an apology.

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