hankyoreh

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol presides over a national safety system review meeting on Nov. 7 at his presidential office in Yongsan. (presidential office pool photo)

South Korea's presidential office has notified MBC that it will be barring reporters from the broadcaster from accompanying President  Yoon Suk-yeol on his upcoming tour of Southeast Asia, set to begin on Friday.

With the administration accusing MBC of “distorted and biased coverage” and now denying the broadcaster’s reporters access to the presidential plane, it’s likely to stir controversy over gagging the press.

A text message sent to MBC reporters by the presidential office on Wednesday reads as follows:

“The boarding of the presidential jet has been a service provided to help with coverage of diplomatic and security issues, but considering MBC’s repeated distorted and biased coverage of foreign policy issues recently, we have decided not to provide them with this service.”

According to the presidential office, “MBC has not taken any corrective measures against a series of incidents such as the manipulation of subtitles, attempts to instigate conflict with allied nations, distortions that failed to make clear the use of a body double, and biased broadcasting.”

The presidential office added that the boarding ban was “an inevitable measure” to prevent MBC from conducting any further “biased” and “distorted” reporting.

Back in September, Yoon used profane language when visiting the US, an issue that made headlines around the world. At the time, MBC was the first broadcaster to report on the incident, which was followed up by the presidential office sending an official notice to the broadcaster, inquiring into details about the report and pressuring the channel in a rather unprecedented move.

Last month, MBC’s “PD Note,” an investigative journalism program, reported on suspicions of plagiarism related to first lady Kim Keon-hee’s graduate school thesis. The episode resulted in backlash from the presidential office, which criticized the broadcaster for not clarifying that a body double resembling Kim — and not the actual first lady — was used in the program.

In response to the presidential office’s decision to ban MBC journalists from boarding the presidential jet, MBC said the measure “clearly restricts media coverage” and added that “if we are not allowed to board the jet, MBC will definitely go to the scene and cover it even if it’s through alternative aviation means.”

By Shin Hyeong-cheol, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]