Politics: South Korea's Press Freedom Crashes in a Year: Back to Military Dictatorship?
May 3, 2024
South Korea's press freedom has plummeted over the past year. According to the 2024 World Press Freedom Index report released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on May 3, South Korea's ranking in press freedom is now a humiliating 62nd, having nosedived 15 places from 47th last year.
2024 World Press Freedom Index - journalism under political pressure
Press freedom around the world is being threatened by the very people who should be its guarantors - political authorities. This is clear from the latest annual World Press Freedom Index produced by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). This finding is based on the fact that, of the five indicators used to compile the ranking, it is the political indicator that has fallen most, registering a global average fall of 7.6 points.
https://rsf.org/en/2024-world-press-freedom-index-journalism-under-political-pressure?data_type=general&year=2024
Remember when South Korea once boasted about being 31st under Roh Moo-hyun in 2006? Those days seem like ancient history now. The decline started under Lee Myung-bak, dropping to 69th in 2009, then sank to an embarrassing 70th in 2016 under Park Geun-hye. Even Moon Jae-in's term couldn't pull us out of the mud, with rankings hovering between 41st and 43rd during 2018-2022 because his presidency also valued so called South Korea Jaebul's interests more than anything else.
RSF evaluates press freedom in 180 countries, categorizing them as "good," "fair," "problematic," "poor," or "very poor." Where does South Korea stand? In the "problematic" group, rubbing shoulders with Italy (46th), the United States (55th), and Japan (70th). South Korea was in the "good" group last year, but apparently, good things don't last.
Several South Korean journalists face prosecution threats for criminal defamation and other charges. Yes, South Korea likes to call itself a democracy that respects press freedom and diversity, but corporate interests often muzzle our so-called "free press." Journalists also face online harassment, with minimal protection against it.
Meanwhile, Asian countries like Myanmar (171st), China (172nd), and Vietnam (174th) languish at the bottom, but Timor-Leste shines at 20th, the highest in Asia. Norway continues to lord over everyone, securing the top spot for the eighth consecutive year, followed by Denmark and Sweden. It's a Nordic sweep at the top.