DistantNews
🇰🇷 South Korea /Conflict & Security

Media Groups Demand Swift Audit of YTN Sale Amidst Delays

From Hankyoreh · (5h ago) Korean Critical tone

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A coalition of media watchdog groups and labor unions urged the National Audit Bureau to expedite its investigation into the alleged forced sale of YTN, a news channel.
  • The groups criticized the audit bureau's slow progress six months after the Prime Minister ordered a probe into the sale of government assets, including YTN.
  • They called for a thorough audit of the decision-making process and approval of the largest shareholder change, demanding a swift and fair investigation to uncover any illegal activities.

The Hankyoreh, along with other media advocacy groups and labor unions, is demanding swift action from the National Audit Bureau regarding the controversial sale of YTN. We believe the government's handling of this matter, particularly the sluggish pace of the audit, is unacceptable. It has been six months since the Prime Minister ordered a comprehensive investigation into the sale of government assets, including YTN, yet tangible progress remains elusive.

The National Audit Bureau's response, which holds the key to investigating the truth of the broadcast channel's takeover by a faction involved in sedition, is still sluggish.

— Kim Hyun-sik, co-representative of the joint action committee to block media controlDuring a press conference urging a swift audit and investigation into the forced sale of YTN.

As an independent constitutional body tasked with overseeing administrative agencies and public officials, the National Audit Bureau has a duty to meticulously examine the decision-making process behind YTN's share sale and the subsequent approval of the largest shareholder change. We are concerned that crucial details may be obscured, and we urge the bureau to uncover the truth behind any alleged illegalities. The public deserves transparency, and the courts and the Korea Communications Commission need a clear, evidence-based foundation for their judgments.

It has already been six months since the Prime Minister's directive. If problems are confirmed, legal responsibility will be pursued through investigations, and measures for restoration will be prepared, but no changes have been confirmed yet.

— Lee Ho-chan, president of the Korean Broadcasting UnionSpeaking at the press conference about the delay in the investigation.

Furthermore, our coalition has filed complaints against former President Yoon Suk Yeol, his wife Kim Keon Hee, and former Communications Commission chairmen Lee Dong-kwan and Kim Hong-il for alleged abuse of power and bid rigging related to this sale. The lack of progress in the police investigation into these serious allegations is equally troubling. We implore the police to actively pursue these leads and hold those responsible accountable. The integrity of our media landscape is at stake, and we will not stand idly by while due process is undermined.

Thoroughly investigate the government-YTN collusion and the illegal involvement of the Broadcasting and Communications Commission in the YTN sale process.

— Lee Ho-chan, president of the Korean Broadcasting UnionDemanding a full investigation into the YTN sale.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog