Hong Kong Pro-China Media Apple Daily Shutdown

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Bu Aeri] Hong Kong's anti-China media outlet Apple Daily published its final newspaper on the 24th and is shutting down.

Apple Daily announced on the 23rd through its website, "We have decided to cease operations as of today," adding, "The 24th will be the last print edition." The website also stated, "Updates will be suspended from midnight today."

Apple Daily was founded by businessman Jimmy Lai on June 20, 1995.

Since the inauguration of Tung Chee-hwa, the first Chief Executive of Hong Kong, in 2002, the outlet focused on political issues and sharply criticized both the Chinese and Hong Kong governments.

During the 2019 protests against the "Fugitive Offenders Ordinance (Extradition Law)," it actively encouraged public participation in the demonstrations and reported extensively on police violence.

Jimmy Lai himself participated directly in the 2014 Umbrella Movement and the 2019 anti-extradition protests.

Chinese state media and pro-Beijing forces in Hong Kong accused him of colluding with foreign powers to overthrow the Hong Kong government.

After the Hong Kong National Security Law came into effect on June 30 last year, both he and Apple Daily were criticized for violating the law.

Ultimately, he was arrested in August last year on charges of violating the National Security Law and was indicted in December.

He was also embroiled in a scandal related to the U.S. presidential election.

In October last year, it was revealed that Jimmy Lai's funds were channeled into a project producing reports that defamed Joe Biden, the Democratic candidate in the U.S. presidential election, sparking controversy.

At that time, Jimmy Lai had publicly declared support for President Donald Trump, who was strongly pressuring China on issues including Hong Kong.

In April and May of this year, he was sentenced to a total of 20 months in prison for participating in three illegal assemblies in 2019.

The authorities also froze his assets, which are reported to amount to 500 million Hong Kong dollars (approximately 72.7 billion Korean won).

Subsequently, on the 17th, the police raided Apple Daily's headquarters on charges of violating the National Security Law, conducted a search and seizure, arrested five people including the editor-in-chief, and indicted two of them. Additionally, company assets worth 18 million Hong Kong dollars (about 2.6 billion Korean won) were frozen.

With the authorities applying pressure through the National Security Law and cutting off funding, Apple Daily ultimately had to close its doors. Apple Daily's sister publication, Next Magazine, also announced its closure a few hours before Apple Daily's shutdown declaration.

Once publishing 500,000 copies daily, Apple Daily's recent daily sales were about 80,000 copies. Approximately 800 people lost their jobs due to Apple Daily's closure.