President Lee Suggests Sanctions for Biased Broadcasting; Experts Call Remarks 'Inappropriate'

President Lee Jae-myung has sparked controversy by suggesting the need for sanctions against some cable television channels, citing concerns over their political bias and perceived lack of fairness. Speaking at a meeting on June 2, the president questioned the existing sanctions mechanism for channels that exhibit extreme bias or a lack of neutrality, asking, "What kind of sanctions are there if they are very biased and lose neutrality, for example, like a party organ?".

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What kind of sanctions are there if they are very biased and lose neutrality, for example, like a party organ?

His remarks were made after receiving a report on the re-licensing of certain general programming channels (Jongpyeon) from the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) chairperson. The president emphasized the public service nature of these channels and questioned how they are penalized for such perceived transgressions. He expressed concern about channels that lack objectivity and habitually broadcast false or distorted information, asking, "What happens if they habitually broadcast false information, distortion, and manipulation?"

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What happens if they habitually broadcast false information, distortion, and manipulation?

Media experts and civic groups have strongly criticized the president's statements. They argue that his comments conflate broadcast administration with program deliberation, potentially leading to "administrative censorship" or "state censorship." One media scholar noted that the purpose of deliberation systems is post-hoc evaluation and prevention of recurrence, not administrative review. The scholar warned that using such criteria for deliberation and subsequent administrative regulation is "extremely dangerous."

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The president's remarks are effectively asking for administrative censorship.

The debate also touches upon the ongoing legislative efforts to amend the Broadcasting Act. The ruling party is pushing for a revision that would prevent the KCSC from deliberating based on "fairness," a concept critics deem vague and open to subjective interpretation. The president's comments are seen by some as undermining the independence of broadcasting and potentially pressuring channels through the re-licensing process, a move that could infringe upon press freedom.

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The president directly pointing out the bias of specific broadcasters in a formal setting like a State Council meeting and urging sanctions is a typical act of political power infringing on press freedom.