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🇰🇷 South Korea /Conflict & Security

Special prosecutor indicts former KTV chief over alleged martial law broadcast

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified In the courts
  • A special prosecutor's team indicted Lee Eun-woo, former head of Korea Policy Broadcasting (KTV), on charges of inciting rebellion.
  • Lee is accused of using his broadcasting authority to promote martial law and suppress dissenting information during a period of alleged martial law in December 2024.
  • This indictment follows a previous case where Lee was charged with abuse of power for ordering the removal of critical news segments.

Prosecutors have indicted Lee Eun-woo, the former head of Korea Policy Broadcasting (KTV), on charges of inciting rebellion related to alleged martial law activities. The special prosecutor's team announced on August 11 that Lee was indicted without detention for his role in the events of December 2024.

The indictment alleges that Lee exploited his authority over public broadcasting channels to repeatedly broadcast information justifying the alleged rebellion and martial law, while selectively blocking content critical of these actions. The prosecution views these actions as an attempt to incite public support for the rebellion.

— Special Prosecutor's TeamExplaining the charges against Lee Eun-woo.

The indictment alleges that Lee exploited his authority over public broadcasting channels to repeatedly broadcast information justifying the alleged rebellion and martial law, while selectively blocking content critical of these actions. The prosecution views these actions as an attempt to incite public support for the rebellion.

The prosecution considers the period of alleged rebellion to have ended on December 14, 2024, when the National Assembly passed an impeachment motion against then-President Yoon Suk-yeol, suspending his presidential duties. This date, rather than the lifting of martial law on December 4, 2024, is used to encompass Lee's alleged offenses within a single charge of inciting rebellion.

The prosecution considers the period of alleged rebellion to have ended on December 14, 2024, when the National Assembly passed an impeachment motion against then-President Yoon Suk-yeol, suspending his presidential duties.

— Special Prosecutor's TeamDefining the timeframe for Lee Eun-woo's alleged offenses.

Lee is accused of preparing for the live broadcast of the presidential announcement of martial law after receiving plans from the presidential office. The announcement was broadcast live to other networks via KTV's dedicated network. Previously, a different special prosecutor's team had indicted Lee without detention in December for abuse of power, specifically for ordering the removal of news segments that stated martial law was illegal and unconstitutional.

Lee is accused of preparing for the live broadcast of the presidential announcement of martial law after receiving plans from the presidential office.

Detailing Lee Eun-woo's alleged involvement.
DistantNews Editorial

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

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