South Korea Presidential Candidate's Wife Threatens To Jail Critical Reporters
Faizan Hashmi Published January 24, 2022 | 02:19 PM
A South Korean opposition party was struggling Monday to contain the fallout after the wife of its presidential candidate threatened to "jail all reporters" who criticised her husband
Seoul, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Jan, 2022 ) :A South Korean opposition party was struggling Monday to contain the fallout after the wife of its presidential candidate threatened to "jail all reporters" who criticised her husband.
It is the second scandal to hit People Power Party candidate Yoon Suk-yeol since taped recordings and court transcriptions of his wife speaking to a journalist became public last week following a court battle.
Yoon is locked in a tight race with Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung ahead of the March presidential election, with recent polls falling within the margin for error.
"If I make it to the Blue House, I will put them all in jail," said Kim Keon-hee, referring to the presidential office, in the latest comments.
She said critical media outlets would likely be prosecuted under her husband's future administration.
"Police will charge them whether we order them to or not," she told a journalist in recorded comments.
Last Tuesday, Yoon's party was forced to distance itself from remarks in which Kim expressed strong support for a former politician now jailed for rape and was dismissive of the country's #MeToo movement.
Yoon's campaign manager on Monday said the party was "trying to find the best way forward" after the would-be first lady's most recent remarks were made public.
Kim's comments have touched a raw nerve in South Korea, a robust democracy where strong libel laws can result in reporters facing jail time over their work.
South Korea is ranked 42nd in the World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters without Borders.
In a poll by the Korea Economic Daily released Monday, more than half of respondents said that the comments by Yoon's wife would negatively affect his approval.
The party had lodged multiple injunctions in a bid to keep the recordings out of the public domain, but all were rejected by the courts.
The comments by a woman who could become the country's next first lady "reflect her views... and thus are subject to public interest and inspection", the Seoul Central District Court ruled last week.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
HEC reviews curricula for environmental sciences degree programme
ICC Asia looking forward to an action-packed Asia Cricket Week
Yuvraj Singh named ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Ambassador
Greece hands Olympic flame to 2024 Paris Games hosts
Two Kyiv hospitals evacuating over feared Russian strikes
World must act on neurotech revolution, say experts
Charles & Catherine's cancer diagnoses
Champions Alcaraz and Sabalenka through in Madrid Open
King Charles to resume some public duties during cancer treatment: palace
US defense chief announces $6 bn in security aid for Ukraine
Heavy rains cause damage to Spezand-Taftan railway track
Woman stabbed in Israel, attacker killed: police
More Stories From World
-
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results - collated
17 minutes ago -
PGA Zurich Classic of New Orleans scores
17 minutes ago -
Sudanese filmmakers shine light on war's 'silent problems'
17 minutes ago -
NFL will allow players to wear Guardian Cap helmets in games
7 hours ago -
Football: German Bundesliga table
7 hours ago -
Football: Italian Serie A result
7 hours ago
-
Football: German Bundesliga results
7 hours ago -
US troops to leave Chad in second African state withdrawal
7 hours ago -
Plastics pollution may be solved without production cap: Canada minister
7 hours ago -
Biden stalls on menthol cigarette ban fearing Black vote backlash
7 hours ago -
Champions Alcaraz and Sabalenka through in Madrid Open
7 hours ago -
6,000 French police to welcome Olympic torch amid bonus boost
8 hours ago