South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has demanded the return and cancellation of a prestigious journalism award given to a major newspaper for its coverage of the controversial Janggi-dong development project, calling the reporting “massive fabrication” that distorted historical facts and influenced the outcome of a past presidential election.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on April 24, 2026, President Lee criticized the Korea Newspaper Association’s decision to honor a Dong-A Ilbo article with its top news reporting award in 2023, stating that the award was based on a false premise of “relentless fact-finding” when, in reality, the reporting involved significant manipulation and invention.
The president emphasized that allowing historical narratives to be altered through coordinated efforts between state institutions and media undermines democratic integrity, asserting that such actions must not be repeated. He called for the award to be revoked, the prize money returned, and a formal apology and correction issued by the newspaper.
President Lee specifically referenced the Janggi-dong development scandal, which emerged during the 2022 presidential election cycle and involved allegations of illicit gains tied to urban redevelopment projects in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. The Dong-A Ilbo’s 2023 award-winning reporting had claimed to uncover pivotal facts through investigative journalism, but the president contended that key elements — including references to a figure referred to as “that person” in connection with himself — were fabricated and not present in verified evidence such as leaked audio recordings.
He argued that this fabricated narrative contributed to shaping public perception during the election and may have affected the democratic process, stating that the reporting “created a false storyline” that had real-world consequences on national history.
The controversy resurfaced as President Lee attended the Korea-Vietnam Business Forum in Hanoi on April 23, 2026, where he spoke before departing for the airport. His subsequent social media post reignited public debate over media accountability, press freedom, and the role of journalism in politically sensitive investigations.
The Korea Newspaper Association has not yet responded publicly to the president’s demands. The Dong-A Ilbo maintains its original reporting was based on thorough investigation and public interest journalism, though no detailed rebuttal has been issued as of April 24, 2026.
This incident adds to ongoing tensions between the South Korean presidency and certain media outlets regarding coverage of corruption allegations, investigative journalism standards, and the boundaries of press scrutiny in high-stakes political environments.
As of now, no official proceedings have been initiated to review the award status, and the Korea Newspaper Association’s awards committee has not announced plans to reconsider past honors.
Readers are encouraged to follow official statements from the Presidency Office and the Korea Newspaper Association for updates on this developing matter. Share your thoughts on the balance between investigative reporting and factual accuracy in the comments below.