Blue House: "Allegations Linking President Lee to Organized Crime Proven False... Will Exercise Right to Request Follow-up Reports from Media Outlets"

Lee Gyuyon Holds Briefing on March 19

"No Media Outlet Has Issued a Proper Correction"

On March 19, the Blue House announced its intention to exercise the right to request a follow-up report, as guaranteed under the Press Arbitration Act, in response to allegations linking President Lee Jae-myung to organized crime.

Lee Guyoun, Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Relations and Communication, stated during a briefing at the Chunchugwan that “We respectfully request the following from all media outlets,” and added, “As it has been revealed that the allegations of organized crime involvement and the alleged receipt of 2 billion won are false, we ask that you publish a follow-up report.”

The right to request a follow-up report allows a person who has been reported as being accused of a crime or subject to criminal action to request that the media publish a follow-up if that person is later acquitted or found not guilty during criminal proceedings.

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the Senior Presidential Secretary Meeting held at the Blue House on the 19th. March 19, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News

Lee further stated, “We ask for such reports so that misunderstandings among the public caused by the initial coverage can be resolved, and that reputational damage can be restored. We hope that this request will serve as an opportunity for media coverage to become more objective and fair, thereby strengthening the public’s right to know.”

He added, “We respect journalists and the media, and value your autonomy. We expect prompt action.”

Attorney Jang had raised suspicions about President Lee, then the Democratic Party's presidential candidate during the 20th presidential election, alleging links to organized crime. Regarding this, the Supreme Court's third division (Presiding Justice Lee Heunggu) on March 12 upheld the original verdict, sentencing Attorney Jang Youngha to one year in prison with a two-year suspended sentence for violating the Public Official Election Act.

Lee pointed out, “It has now been legally confirmed that the related suspicions raised thus far were based on falsehoods. Nevertheless, such reports still remain and continue to mislead the public.”

He went on to say, “There are very few cases where media outlets have issued proper corrections. While freedom of the press is a core value of democracy, the responsibility that comes with it is equally significant.”

He also remarked, “No matter how late it is, correcting an article to set the record straight is better than not doing it at all.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.