Government Ads Worth 170 Million Won Placed with Sky Daily... Im Okyung Urges Ministry of Culture to Take Action

From January to August 2021-2025,
82 Government Ads Placed with Sky Daily, Totaling 171 Million Won
Local Governments, Including Incheon, Continued Ads Despite Controversial Reports
Im Okyung: "Guidelines Needed to Restrict Government Ads for Outlets Ruled to Have Spread False Information"

It has been revealed that, as of this year alone, over 170 million won in government advertisements have been placed with an online media outlet embroiled in controversy for spreading 'fake news.' Assemblywoman Im Okyung of the Democratic Party of Korea, a member of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, has called for the swift establishment of guidelines to restrict government advertisements for media outlets that disseminate false or manipulated information.

Im Okyung. Photo by Yonhap News.

According to data submitted to Assemblywoman Im Okyung by the Korea Press Foundation on September 28, a total of 82 government advertisements, amounting to approximately 171 million won, were placed with the online outlet Sky Daily from January to August this year. Government advertisements include all advertisements placed by government ministries, local governments, and public institutions.

Sky Daily was expelled from the Korea Internet Newspaper Association on September 22, after causing public outcry with false reports, such as claiming that martial law forces apprehended a Chinese spy on the day of the 12·3 Martial Law.

During this period, the institution that placed the most advertisements with Sky Daily was Incheon Metropolitan City, with a total of 28 advertisements (59.22 million won). This represents an increase of about 40% compared to the same period last year. According to Assemblywoman Im, local governments responded that they placed advertisements with the outlet because it is registered as a press organization and publishes articles based on their press releases.

Assemblywoman Im strongly criticized this, stating, "It is unacceptable that government advertisements are still being placed with media outlets that threaten South Korea's democracy." As an alternative, she argued that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism should promptly establish guidelines to restrict government advertisements for outlets that have received rulings of misinformation or warnings from bodies such as the Korea Press Arbitration Commission or the Korea Press Ethics Commission due to false reporting.