Calls for an apology to Rep. Lee and others who endorsed Lee’s remarks regarding “prosecutors as pets” in a statement, Prosecutor General,
Korean Journalists Association founding 59th anniversary ceremony. 2023.8.10/News1 ⓒ News1 Jang Soo-young reporter,
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, ‘(Seoul=News1) Reporter Kim Il-chang = The Korean Journalists Association, National Union of Media Workers, and Broadcast Journalists’ Union called on Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the ruling Democratic Party, who referred to the press as “prosecutors’ pets,” and lawmakers who supported his remarks to apologize for “excessive insults against journalists.”‘,
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, ‘In a statement released on the 17th, they expressed concerns that “the opposition leader and lawmakers are increasingly raising concerns about attempts to defame and ridicule the media and suppress press freedom through excessive belittling remarks against journalists.”‘,
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, ‘Lee, the party leader, said to reporters before attending a trial on allegations of violating the Public Official Election Act at the Seoul Central District Court on the 14th, “Rather than reporting the truth, are you diligently distorting and manipulating information as if you were receiving information like the prosecutors’ pets.”‘,
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, ‘Lawmaker Yang posted a message on his social media account on the 16th stating, “Those reporters who shuttle back and forth between the prosecutors’ office, some thief Xs from the prosecution are giving information, and only those reporters who copy it down are what kind of pets” and asked, “Why are they receiving criticism for calling them pets with such elevated language instead of simply calling them ‘giregi’ (reporters+trash)?.”‘,
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, ‘Lawmakers Noh Jong-myeon and Choi Min-hee also endorsed the party leader’s remarks, which were derogatory towards the press.’,
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, ‘The associations stated, “We cannot help but be even more disappointed with the low-level media attitude and insults from the ruling Democratic Party, which has emphasized criticism of the Yoon Suk-yeol government’s press suppression and declared support for press freedom more than anyone else. We must recognize that we cannot remain silent about the antagonism towards the media by the opposition leader and lawmakers and define the remarks of the party leader and lawmakers as frivolous insults against journalists and a bald-faced denial of press freedom, and we strongly request a serious apology.”‘,
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, ‘Regarding lawmaker Yang, they advised, “First-term lawmaker Yang, who is from a media scrutiny background, has raised his presence by voicing criticism rather than understanding the field, and if he considers himself a close aide to the ruling party leader, we hope that he will fulfill his role by presenting valid opinions rather than attacking outsiders.”‘,
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, ‘However, the associations added, “In light of this incident, our media should use this as an opportunity to reflect by thoroughly verifying information provided by investigative agencies before the prosecution phase and incorporating various perspectives of stakeholders to avoid biased reporting that leads to ‘presumed guilt reporting.””‘]