"MBC, oh, sorry. This is reporter Lee Sang-ho from Gobal News."
"Reporter Lee Sang-ho still seems to have an identity that thinks you are MBC. Do you want to go back?"
President Lee Jae-myung on the 3rd delivered a "first anniversary of the revolution of light, president's special statement to the public" at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, marking one year since the Dec. 3 martial law incident. After issuing the special statement, Lee took questions from reporters. Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung called on reporter Lee Sang-ho as the first questioner.
Reporter Lee Sang-ho asked about the dismissal of the arrest warrant for former People Power Party floor leader Choo Kyung-ho, but what drew more attention than the content was that Lee first identified his affiliation as "MBC" and then corrected it to Gobal News. President Lee Jae-myung, listening to the question, laughed and asked back, "Are you with MBC?"
Reporter Lee Sang-ho, who worked at MBC as an investigative reporter, now runs a media outlet called Gobal News. On July, when the presidential office added three outlets to the press corps, including Kim Ou-joon's YouTube program "News Factory," which leans pro-ruling camp, Lee also gained access to the presidential office.
Since gaining access to the presidential office, reporter Lee Sang-ho has made his presence felt by receiving opportunities to ask questions at major events. At the news conference marking Lee's 100th day in office, he received the final question. Lee personally called on reporter Lee. At the time, the reporter asked Lee about his willingness to search for the presumed fuselage of "KAL Flight 858."
Starting this month, he has also been livestreaming on YouTube every day at noon from the briefing room at the presidential office. Gobal News said, "The government is opening everything up through transparent state affairs, so the media should also take off their masks and move toward transparent reporting," adding, "Gobal News decided to take the lead."
Meanwhile, MBC will soon begin the process of selecting a new president. The term of President Ahn Hyeong-jun runs until the end of February next year.