As cable giant shuts out rivals, Lee seeks to topple Olympic paywall
President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday called for changes to the law to ensure what he described as “universal access” to major sporting events, criticizing a private broadcaster that secured exclusive rights to the Olympics and the 2026 World Cup. While Lee did not name the company, his remarks clearly targeted JTBC, the cable giant whose exclusive contracts have sidelined traditional networks in Winter Olympics coverage. The move has sparked backlash over a "paywall" being placed around events long viewed as a shared national right. Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, Lee said the government should review how Koreans can watch events that carry broad public interest. “Institutional improvements are needed to ensure our people have broad access to international events,” he said. Lee pointed to the recently concluded Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, saying the national mood did not rise as much as in past global competitions despite strong performances by Korean athletes. “Despite our athletes’ grit and performances, there is regret that social excitement was not sufficiently elevated co
