Sacheon City Declares "No Tolerance for False or Distorted Reports"... Pursues Corrections and Damages

Sacheon City in South Gyeongsang Province has initiated procedures for correction reports and claims for damages in response to false and distorted reports by certain online media outlets.

The city announced on April 6 that it has filed an application for mediation with the Gyeongnam office of the Press Arbitration Commission regarding this matter, and the case has been registered as "2026 Gyeongnam Mediation 49·50 (Correction/Damages)." The mediation hearing is expected to be held between the end of April and mid-May, although the exact date has not yet been confirmed.

Sichuan City, Photo from the press conference rebuttal site

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The controversial reports raised suspicions regarding the purchase of Woonin Fisheries in connection with the Sacheon mayor, mentioning the possibility of "abuse of authority" and "breach of trust." In response, the city demanded correction reports, a public apology, and compensation for damages.

In particular, Sacheon City clarified that the so-called "move to file a complaint" was initiated by the media outlet's own expressions, not by any specific civic group, and is working to correct the facts surrounding the issue.

According to the city, the project in question has been a long-term urban planning initiative pursued since 2016. All procedures have been carried out in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, and compensation for land and buildings was properly calculated based on appraisal standards. The city also stated that claims in some reports about "overpriced purchases" or "failure to follow procedures" are not true.

Sacheon City intends to correct the distorted information and restore damaged public trust in administration through this mediation process. The city also reaffirmed its position to respond firmly to baseless suspicions that have caused confusion among citizens.

An official from the city stated, "Using definitive language to allege serious crimes such as 'abuse of authority' and 'breach of trust' during the process of carrying out public projects severely undermines trust in public institutions," adding, "We hope that the mediation process will clarify the facts accurately."

Meanwhile, Sacheon City plans to continue proactively responding to false and distorted reports in the future to help foster a fair media environment.

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