Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has called upon the current presidential candidates in South Korea to make a strong pledge to uphold and enhance press freedom in the nation. This appeal comes at a critical juncture as the country continues to deal with the ramifications of the impeachment and removal of former President Yoon Suk Yeol in April 2025.
RSF has outlined several urgent recommendations aimed at restoring and protecting press freedom in South Korea. These recommendations include addressing discriminatory practices against public media entities, such as the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), and reinstating regular presidential press briefings. RSF also emphasizes the need to amend or repeal criminal defamation laws, which have been used to penalize journalists regardless of the factual accuracy of their reporting, as long as the coverage is perceived to be harmful.
Under Yoon’s administration, tensions between the government and media escalated following an event in September 2022 involving a hot mic incident with US President Joe Biden. MBC’s coverage of the incident led to retaliatory measures by Yoon’s office, including barring MBC journalists from the presidential plane and suspending press briefings, which provoked criticism from RSF and local media advocates.
The political climate further deteriorated when Yoon declared martial law in December 2024, a move swiftly overturned by lawmakers who viewed it as an overreach and a threat to democratic institutions. The escalating political and media tensions ultimately led to Yoon’s impeachment, with media repression being a central reason cited for his ousting.
The issue of South Korea’s defamation laws remains a significant concern, as they create opportunities for political manipulation against journalists. The deterioration in press freedom is reflected in South Korea’s fall in the RSF’s 2025 World Press Freedom Index to 61st place, marking a significant drop from its previous position as a leader in East Asian press freedom.