In the Name of Fighting Disinformation: President Yoon Suk Yeol’s Press Freedom Paradox

In the vibrant democracy of South Korea, the free press stands as a pillar of hard-won liberties, a symbol of resilience against decades of military dictatorship. However, President Yoon Suk Yeol’s recent actions, ostensibly aimed at combating “fake news,” spark a critical debate: At what point does the fight against disinformation infringe upon the freedom of the press?

President Yoon, a former prosecutor, ascended to the presidency with a promise to uphold democratic values. Yet, his administration’s approach towards the media — marked by lawsuits, criminal investigations, and raids on journalists’ homes — raises alarms about the health of these very values. A notable case is the independent news organization Newstapa and broadcaster JTBC and other broadcasting companies, which faced severe backlash from the government for its critical reporting. These moves, including raids and confiscation of journalistic materials, have been widely criticized as government interference in the media.

Such measures are not isolated incidents but part of a broader campaign against perceived adversaries, including labor unions and critical media outlets. This aggressive stance has led the International Federation of Journalists to express alarm over the ongoing media rights violations in South Korea.

The media landscape in South Korea, while free, is highly politicized. Major conservative newspapers tend to favor right-wing…