[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, expressed his welcome regarding the passage of a bill imposing punitive damages on media outlets that produce false and fabricated news through a National Assembly subcommittee, saying, "A long-standing wish of the people has been resolved."
He also strongly criticized Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, who claimed that the passage of this bill goes against the spirit of Roh Moo-hyun, saying, "Do not distort the spirit of Roh Moo-hyun."
On the 28th, Governor Lee posted on Facebook, "The amendment to the Media Arbitration Act has passed the subcommittee of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee," adding, "It is only natural to impose punitive damages obligations on media outlets for false and fabricated reports, i.e., 'fake news.' This is a long-standing wish of the people and is greatly welcomed."
He continued, "The media is a pillar supporting democracy, and with the media, freedom of expression and the public's right to know are guaranteed," adding, "However, some media outlets have forgotten their fundamental role by producing fake news and distorting facts. That is why I have insisted on the necessity of a punitive damages system."
He then said, "Lee Jun-seok (People Power Party) claimed that this amendment contradicts the spirit of Roh Moo-hyun, which pursued media diversity," and rebutted, "Guaranteeing media diversity and blocking fake news are entirely different issues, and protecting fake news cannot be said to be the spirit of Roh Moo-hyun."
In particular, he sharpened his criticism by saying, "Our constitution does not guarantee freedom that infringes on the basic rights of the people," and "The damage suffered by the people due to fake news has been too great to show tolerance, and during the time when the predecessor party of the People Power Party was in power, the truth about the Sewol ferry disaster was buried under fake news."
Furthermore, he emphasized, "Fake news also had an influence on the death of President Roh Moo-hyun," and "I hope the spirit of Roh Moo-hyun is not damaged by irrelevant logic, and the punitive damages system for media outlets is the spirit of Roh Moo-hyun."
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