Seoul says indictment cancellation claims are misinformation; probe referred to Press Arbitration Commission.

Hong Ik-pyo, the Blue House’s senior secretary for political affairs, said on the 13th that the so‑called “indictment cancellation trade” controversy is “fake news” that could erode the public’s trust in government.

Hong spoke on KBS 1TV’s current affairs program about the allegations surrounding the broadcaster Kim Eo-jun’s News Factory. He noted that the program in question is registered as a media company, implying that it would be subject to appropriate inquiry.

Earlier, Hong had suggested the investigation might be handled by the Broadcasting and Communications Review Committee. The Blue House later corrected that the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Press Arbitration Commission, not the broadcasting regulator.

The Blue House explained that the dispute over “indictment cancellation” is regulated under the Press Arbitration Act, which governs internet media, and thus falls to the Press Arbitration Commission rather than the broadcasting regulator.

Hong said he was stunned by the claims and did not know how to respond, noting he was busy with duties. He added that the ruling Democratic Party should respond, and that party figure Jung Cheong-rae would articulate a position after verifying the facts.

The controversy began after Jang In-su, a former MBC journalist, appeared on Kim Eo-jun’s YouTube show on the 10th and claimed that a high-ranking government official, viewed as President Lee Jae-myung’s closest aide, asked prosecutors to drop charges.

For U.S. readers, the episode highlights how misinformation can permeate political discourse in a key U.S. ally and how media regulation intersects with governance in Korea. The episode also underscores how the independence of prosecutors and the channels for addressing media claims can affect political stability, investor confidence, and international perceptions of rule of law in a major Asia-Pacific democracy.