"Pass the Impeachment Motion Against Yoon Seok-yeol"... Journalists' Political Declaration in Front of the National Assembly

297 Media Outlets, 4164 Participants Involved

Working journalists on the 14th stated, “The National Assembly must pass the impeachment motion against Yoon Seok-yeol. All members of the National Assembly must participate in the vote on the impeachment motion,” adding, “The anger of the people filling the streets must be resolved by implementing the Constitution and laws inside the National Assembly building.”

A rally demanding the resignation of President Yoon Seok-yeol is taking place in front of the National Assembly in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

On the same day, journalists held the “Joint Journalists’ Resolution Rally Urging the Impeachment of Yoon Seok-yeol” in front of the KBS main building in Yeouido, saying, “We will regard the members of the National Assembly who abstain from this impeachment vote as enemies of press freedom and democracy, and will judge them together with the people.”

The journalists stated, “On the 3rd, President Yoon Seok-yeol declared a state of emergency to ‘eradicate shameless pro-North anti-state forces at once.’ It was an absurd proclamation only possible under military dictatorship 50 years ago,” adding, “The intrusion of martial law troops aiming their guns at the National Assembly and citizens reminded all journalists in South Korea of the censorship and control of the press during the military dictatorship era, which would have crushed them under military boots, causing a time of anger and fear.”

The journalists said, “We are experiencing another personal coup following the declaration of the Yushin dictatorship. Facing one million citizens demanding the passage of the presidential impeachment motion, the National Assembly failed to achieve the impeachment. The personal coup is still ongoing,” and added, “From the April 19 Revolution in 1960 to the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye in 2017, the entire nation has witnessed the collapse of democracy in South Korea, which was built through history, and we reaffirm the value of press freedom, which is as vital as life itself. We cannot forget the responsibilities of journalists that have been upheld throughout the turbulent history of South Korean democracy.”

Press Declaration on the Current Situation. Asia Economy DB

The journalists declared, “At the crossroads of the collapse and leap of South Korea’s democratic history, we journalists will ensure the role of a free press independent from any power and the accuracy of reporting demanded by the sovereign people. Rather than merely transcribing political statements issued several times a day, we will become the voice of the people and sharpen the edge of questioning and criticism,” adding, “The press’s monitoring and criticism will be directed not only at the personal coup forces but at all political circles. We will not forget that this is the social responsibility of the profession of journalism.”

This political declaration was led by the Barun Regional Media Alliance, Broadcast Journalists Association, National Union of Mediaworkers, Korea Journalists Association, Korea Broadcast Technicians Federation, Korea Broadcast Cameramen Federation, Korea Photojournalists Association, Korea Announcers Association, Korea Women Journalists Association, Korea Video Journalists Association, Korea Video Editors Association, Korea Investigative Journalists Association, Korea Editors Association, and Korea PD Association, with participation from a total of 297 media outlets and 4,164 working journalists. The declaration was published in special editions of the Journalists Association Newspaper, Kyunghyang Shinmun Saturday Special Edition, and Hankyoreh Newspaper special edition.