Former KTV Director Sentenced for Censoring Criticism of Martial Law Bid
Quick Look
A Seoul court sentenced former KTV director Lee Eun-woo to a suspended one-year prison term for ordering the deletion of subtitles criticizing ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed 2024 martial law bid, citing KTV's duty of fairness.
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Why It Matters
Former KTV director Lee Eun-woo was sentenced for censoring content critical of former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed 2024 martial law bid, with the court stating he failed to uphold KTV's duty of fairness as a public broadcaster.
SEOUL, June 26 (Yonhap) -- A court on Friday sentenced the former director of public broadcaster KTV to a suspended prison term of one year for censoring content that criticized former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed 2024 martial law bid.
The Seoul Central District Court convicted Lee Eun-woo of ordering his staff to delete subtitles that carried political remarks criticizing the illegality and unconstitutionality of the martial law declaration.
"By actively ordering the removal of critical content, the defendant ultimately defended the legitimacy of the martial law," the court said, accusing Lee of failing to uphold KTV's duty to maintain fairness as a public broadcaster.
The court also dismissed Lee's claim that his actions merely aligned with KTV's role as a government promotional channel.
"Promoting government policies must be based on providing accurate facts," the court explained.
"It is highly questionable whether hiding the unconstitutionality, illegality and updates of the martial law can be called proper public relations."
Separately, Lee remains under investigation by special counsel Kwon Chang-young's team on suspicions of repeatedly broadcasting news that justified the insurrection while blocking and deleting coverage critical of the declaration.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Lee Eun-woo will continue to be investigated by special counsel Kwon Chang-young's team.
Very likely · Within months
Open Questions
- What was the specific content of the deleted subtitles?
- What are the details of the martial law declaration?
- What is the current status of the special counsel's investigation into Lee?
