[Reporter's Notebook] People Power Party Floor Leader Grabs Journalist's Wrist: A Dangerous View of the Press

Another shocking incident has occurred at the National Assembly, the very place where the nightmare of the 12·3 Martial Law once unfolded. This time, the floor leader of a political party grabbed the wrist of a journalist who had entered the National Assembly Members' Office Building to report on political issues.

On April 17, Kwon Seongdong, floor leader of the People Power Party, used the term "jilasi" (rumor mill) and pulled the wrist of a reporter who was trying to ask additional questions after an event at the Members' Office Building. Was this the best way for Kwon, a five-term lawmaker and senior politician, to treat a journalist? If the question was uncomfortable, he could have simply said, "Let's talk next time," "I can't answer right now," or just remained silent.

When Newstapa announced that it would file criminal and civil complaints against Kwon for verbal abuse, assault, and defamation, Kwon responded by saying, "I will also file a complaint," taking a confrontational stance. This incident reveals the narrow view of the press held by the Yoon Sukyeol administration, which has been criticized for its attempts to silence the media. Some People Power Party candidates in the recent presidential primary also sparked controversy by telling certain media outlets, "I won't answer questions from your company."

Kwon Sungdong, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 15th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Freedom of the press is the foundation of a liberal democracy. Why is the People Power Party, which has long championed liberal democracy, now trying to silence journalists' questions and even resort to violence? Hostility toward the media within the political sphere is a serious issue that cannot simply be dismissed as a minor incident. In this case, the fact that it escalated into physical violence makes it all the more serious.

The very purpose and role of the media is to monitor, check, criticize, and expose those in power. Journalists ask politicians questions on behalf of the public and disseminate that information widely. Kwon should consider how his actions that day appeared to the people. Despite his dangerous and troubling behavior, he has shown no sign of remorse.

One of the common jokes in the National Assembly is that "politicians welcome any article as long as it's not their own obituary." The idea is that, whether the coverage is positive or negative, increased name recognition always benefits politicians. But does that hold true in this case?

Among reporters covering the National Assembly, there is now a sense of fear: "What if I had been the reporter whose wrist was grabbed?" If this incident passes without an apology, that fear will remain. Fear is contagious. The anxiety sparked by this incident is spreading beyond journalists to the general public.