"I'm probably overambitious, but I'd like to hear your sincere words of sorry."
This is what President Lee Jae-myung said by expressing his position directly in relation to the media that reported his alleged gangster collusion in the past.
President Lee said, "I wonder if the 'I want to know about it' that created Lee Jae-myung's gang violence scandal will be reported in the future, and if so, how will it be reported?"
"In order to prevent the recurrence of burying people in the grave of lies for political purposes, the power of the people and the reflection and apology of the fabricated broadcasts are necessary," he said.
When lawyer Jang Young-ha, who was indicted for raising suspicions of Lee Jae-myung's involvement in gang membership in the 20th presidential election, was sentenced to probation for "publication of false information", the media, which raised suspicions, also asked for a later report.
President Lee's issue of "I Want to Know That" was aired in 2018.
["Unanswered Questions" broadcast (July 21, 2018)]
"There were more members of the international mafia group around Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung."
The production team said, "We reported it through sufficient coverage, investigation, and confirmation processes under the public interest purpose," but the flared "rumor of gang involvement" has also spread to political circles.
In 2021, Kim Yong-pan, a member of the People's Power, released a photo of a large amount of money during a parliamentary audit in Gyeonggi Province, saying it was evidence that a former gang member gave money to Governor Lee Jae-myung.
At that time, Governor Lee Jae-myung strongly protested, calling it the dissemination of clear false information hidden behind immunity.
[Lee Jae Myung / Governor of Gyeonggi Province at the time (October 18, 2021)]
"This is why we need to limit lawmakers' immunity. They also play such false information in front of the public."
However, the photo turned out to have nothing to do with President Lee, who was not evidence of bribery, but posted it on social media by a former gang member, Park, showing off the money he earned.
Cheong Wa Dae said, "We respectfully demand the 'right to claim further reports' guaranteed by the Media Arbitration Act as rumors of gang involvement and 2 billion won were found to be false," adding, "Please report later so that we can resolve the public's misunderstanding and restore the damaged reputation."
Lawyer Shin In-kyu, a former spokesman for the People's Power, posted on his SNS, "I made a wrong comment as a spokesman for the People's Power without sufficient verification, it's a clear fault," and "I apologize to the president."
Park Sohee (so2@mbc.co.kr )
The controversy over President Roh Moo-hyun's "ridge watch" was also an SBS exclusive.
They are at a level so embarrassing that they shouldn't even be called media.
They are merely the frontrunners of the overflowing trashy entertainment shows of this kind right now.
If they call themselves media, they must naturally issue corrections and apology broadcasts,
make efforts to prevent recurrence, and impose disciplinary actions on those involved in parallel.
Let's watch and see how they handle it.
