South Korea's Song Young-gil criticizes YouTube host over Lee Jae-myung indictment rumor
Former Democratic Party of Korea leader Song Young-gil has criticized YouTube host Kim Eo-jun, who runs a pro‑favored channel, for discussing what he called a rumor about a deal to drop charges against Lee Jae-myung.
Song spoke on CBS Radio’s program Park Jae-hong’s One Round Battle on the night of the 12th, saying that the claim about an “indictment cancellation” was not simply groundless, but that someone may have passed a personal speculation to Kim. He stressed that it is inappropriate to generalize or amplify a single person’s viewpoint.
Asked whether Kim’s News Factory program risks deepening split within the progressive camp, Song argued that as influence grows, so does responsibility. He said Kim should exercise that responsibility accordingly.
The former party chief invoked Friedrich Nietzsche’s famous maxim, saying, “fighting monsters” should not lead one to become a monster themselves, and suggested Kim should reflect on whether he is veering in that direction.
Song also pointed to his own experience, noting that despite being a former party leader who fought for three years and was later exonerated, News Factory did not cover him, while the Chosun Ilbo did. He claimed Kim’s program treats him as nearly invisible and said he has never been invited onto the show—and would decline if asked.
Beyond that, Song criticized the image of MPs lining up to appear on a particular YouTube channel as if in a ceremonial audience, calling the dynamic unhealthy. He urged his side to examine itself as critically as it critiques certain YouTubers tied to the opposition.
Context: Kim Eo-jun’s News Factory is a widely watched online program in South Korea, and Lee Jae-myung is a prominent political figure who ran as the ruling party’s presidential candidate in 2022. The exchange highlights how online media personalities influence political discourse and accountability in Korea, a dynamic that can affect public opinion, media ethics, and political leverage at a time when U.S.-Korea security and economic cooperation rely on stable domestic politics and clear governance.