President says MBC's 'malicious' reports hurt national interest

President Yoon Suk-yeol turns his head away from media microphones after speaking to reporters in the lobby of the presidential office in central Seoul, Friday. Newsis

Broadcaster's reporting has been far from impartial, but president's response is immature: experts

By Jung Min-ho

President Yoon Suk-yeol defended his decision to bar MBC's reporters from boarding the presidential plane to cover his latest overseas trip, saying that the broadcaster “maliciously” attempted to damage national interests while reporting about his gaffe in New York in September.

Speaking to journalists Friday, Yoon said the reason for his “inevitable” measure to exclude MBC employees from joining other reporters on Air Force One during his visit to Southeast Asia earlier this week was because of their “fake news,” not because of their criticism aimed at him.

“You are free to criticize me. I'm open to criticism from the press and the public. Yet MBC tried to harm diplomatic relations, the linchpin of our security, with fake news and showed malicious intent,” Yoon said as he entered the presidential office. “I think freedom of the press is important. But its accountability also matters, given that it is one of the four pillars of democracy [along with the three government branches].”

Tensions between Yoon and liberal media outlets, particularly MBC, have escalated after he was caught by a live microphone using foul language.

Asked about criticism that his administration is trying to tame the press, Yoon defended his position, saying, “Let's suppose that the judicial branch fabricated evidence for a verdict [it wants]. Would the people say it should not be called into question because the judiciary is supposed to be independent?”

As Yoon walked away from members of the press, an MBC reporter called out to him, “What did MBC do maliciously?” The reporter then got into a heated argument with Lee Ki-jeong, Yoon's press secretary.

A vice spokesman for the president issued a statement later to defend Yoon's position, accusing MBC of having blamed the administration and even the first lady at every opportunity for political reasons. In one case, he said, MBC hired an actress who resembles first lady Kim Keon-hee in a report on allegations surrounding her doctoral thesis without saying that an actress was playing her role.

Lawmakers from the right and left joined the dispute.

During a YTN radio program, Rep. Park Sung-joong of the ruling People Power Party said he has no trust in MBC, which largely avoided criticism of former President Moon Jae-in while he was in office.

The opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) launched a special committee a day earlier to respond to what it claimed was the administration's attempt to suppress the media. Rep. Ko Min-jung, head of the committee, vowed to fight for media freedom at the National Assembly.

Experts said MBC's reporting in recent years has raised questions in terms of objectivity and impartiality. But they added that the president's handling of the issue is also inappropriate and will not help him politically.

“Its reporting has been like looking for weaknesses [in the president] … and his response is immature. The result is a deepening conflict between conservatives and liberals, with each side cheering for its own team,” said a university media studies professor who declined to be named.

“In the long run, such a response won't help Yoon politically and may backfire on him in terms of how other media outlets report on his moves,” Rhee Jong-hoon, head of the iGM political consultancy, said. “Given the current broadcasting law, it will continue to be an issue.”

The Broadcasting Act, which applies to MBC and KBS, largely favors the ruling party over the appointments of board directors of the terrestrial broadcasters. Reforming it was one of the pledges of the Moon administration, which faced criticism for failing to honor the promise later in spite of the DPK holding a majority in the Assembly. Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the party's leader, said he would revise the law soon.