Political crisis in South Korea: RSF is relieved the media censorship has ended
Had the recent marshal law been extended, it would have given the South Korean president total control over the media for the first time since the country's democratisation. The quick termination of the martial law confirms South Korea's commitment to the rule of law and press freedom. Yet the president’s attempt to control the media shows that press freedom is still at risk, and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the South Korean authorities to put a definitive end to this worrying trend.
On the night of 3 December 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced martial law, an emergency measure placing institutions and the media under military command. The National Assembly overturned the decision less than three hours later. Despite its short duration, martial law had an immediate impact on the press: some journalists were denied access to their newsroom by the military, while others sought refuge in their workplaces, fearing raids on behalf of the authorities.
“If martial law had not been immediately lifted, it would have granted President Yoon Suk Yeol the power to censor the media and control the information they disseminate. This is particularly concerning given his demonstrated hostility toward critics since his election. The near-unanimous rejection of this decision is a relief. We urge all institutional and political leaders in the country to seize this opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to press freedom and pledge to combat its deterioration, which RSF has observed in recent years, in order to restore a climate conducive to journalism in South Korea.
Since his inauguration on 10 May 2022, President Yoon has repeatedly targeted media outlets critical of his administration, dismissing their reports as “fake news.” His party, the People Power Party, has backed punitive measures against certain outlets, including withdrawing subsidies from the broadcaster TBS, accusing it of political bias.
The government’s use of defamation lawsuits against journalists has also surged to unprecedented levels. In 2023 alone, at least five journalists were sued for defamation by either the president or his allies. In South Korea, defamation carries sentences of up to seven years in prison, pressuring many reporters to self-censor to avoid legal entanglements.
The state of press freedom in South Korea has deteriorated significantly under Yoon’s leadership, dropping from 43rd place in 2022 to 62th in RSF’s 2024 World Press Freedom Index. According to a 2023 survey by the Journalists Association of Korea (JAK), more than half of South Korean journalists expressed concern about the erosion of press freedom since Yoon's presidency began.
