S Korea leader criticized for banning broadcaster from plane

By KIM TONG-HYUNG
Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Journalist organizations say South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attacked press freedoms when his office banned one TV broadcaster’s crew from the press pool traveling on his presidential plane this week for allegedly biased reporting. Yoon had previously accused MBC of damaging the country’s alliance with the United States after it released a video suggesting that he insulted U.S. Congress members. Yoon’s office told MBC it wouldn’t provide the broadcaster with “reporting assistance” for the president’s upcoming trips to Cambodia and Indonesia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Group of 20 meetings. The ban excludes MBC from in-flight briefings and other media opportunities.