Special Probe Rules Lee Un‑woo Guilty of Rebellion Promotion for Martial‑Law Coverage

On 11 August, a special investigative panel in Seoul concluded that Lee Un‑woo, former director of public broadcaster KTV, should be charged with “rebellion promotion.” The decision follows Lee’s extensive coverage that endorsed former President Yoon Suk‑yeol’s martial‑law order announced on 3 December 2024.

The panel’s report states that Lee’s program schedule repeatedly broadcast narratives legitimising the emergency rule for about ten days, while suppressing any criticism. It also notes that the panel identified deliberate removal of news items that questioned the legality of the martial law.

The alleged rebellion‑inciting conduct was defined to continue until 14 December, the day the National Assembly moved forward with an impeachment proposal against President Yoon. Lee has previously been sentenced to a one‑year suspended term for censoring anti‑martial‑law footage, but the rebellion‑promotion charge was not advanced at that time.

A May motion seeking Lee’s arrest was turned down by a court, which said the allegations left room for debate. KTV functions under the Korea Policy Broadcasting Service, which reports to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.