SBS' That's What I Want to Know apologized to President Lee Jae-myung.
On the 20th SBS said, "After the broadcast, the Bundang Police Station in Gyeonggi launched an investigation and in November 2018 sent the case to the prosecution with a recommendation of non-indictment for the charge, and the Seongnam branch of the prosecution that took over the case issued a non-indictment disposition in December 2018. The Supreme Court also, ahead of the 2021 presidential election, regarding lawyer Jang Young-ha who claimed that candidate Lee Jae-myung received money from the Seongnam International Mafia, applied the 'Public Official Election Act's false statement of fact' and last week on March 12 finalized a sentence of one year in prison with a two-year suspended sentence. Accordingly, the allegation of involvement between then-Governor Lee Jae-myung of Gyeonggi Province and the Seongnam International Mafia has been confirmed legally to be untrue".
They added, "We apologize for raising suspicions without solid evidence, such as that then-Governor Lee Jae-myung of Gyeonggi Province was included on the list of defense attorneys."
Earlier, President Lee Jae-myung referred to the July 21, 2018, episode of SBS' That's What I Want to Know titled "Power and the mob — one year after the Pattaya murder" and wrote, "To prevent the political burying of people in the grave of lies from recurring, reflection and an apology are needed from the People Power Party that exposed the fabrication and from manipulated broadcasts like 'That's What I Want to Know.' It may be asking too much, but I want to hear a sincere 'I'm sorry.'"
The following is the full text from SBS.
On That's What I Want to Know, in the July 21, 2018, episode "Power and the mob — one year after the Pattaya murder," the program raised suspicions of collusion between Seongnam-area politicians and violent organizations and broadcast that then-Governor Lee Jae-myung of Gyeonggi Province was included on the 2007 list of defense attorneys for two members of the Seongnam International Mafia.
After the broadcast, the Bundang Police Station in Gyeonggi launched an investigation and in November 2018 sent the case to the prosecution with a recommendation of non-indictment for the charge, and the Seongnam branch of the prosecution that took over the case issued a non-indictment disposition in December 2018.
The Supreme Court also, ahead of the 2021 presidential election, regarding lawyer Jang Young-ha who claimed that candidate Lee Jae-myung received money from the Seongnam International Mafia, applied the 'Public Official Election Act's false statement of fact' and last week on March 12 finalized a sentence of one year in prison with a two-year suspended sentence.
Accordingly, the allegation of involvement between then-Governor Lee Jae-myung of Gyeonggi Province and the Seongnam International Mafia has been confirmed legally to be untrue.
That's What I Want to Know apologizes for raising suspicions without solid evidence, such as that then-Governor Lee Jae-myung of Gyeonggi Province was included on the list of defense attorneys.
The That's What I Want to Know program will comply with the SBS Journalism Code that SBS enacted and has been enforcing in 2024 and will continue to produce accurate and objective broadcasts.<
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