The Seoul police are reopening investigations into allegations that Chosun Ilbo falsely reported that a colleague aided in the self-immolation of construction worker Yang Hwae-dong. This came after the police raided the newspaper's headquarters on May 18, where they seized email records from a former reporter of its subsidiary. Yang's tragic act on May 1, 2023, was a protest against what he perceived as governmental oppression of construction labor unions under President Yoon Suk-yeol's administration. His suicide note appealed for the release of wrongfully imprisoned individuals, highlighting the emotional and societal turmoil surrounding labor rights in South Korea.

Chosun Ilbo, along with its subsidiary, reported on May 16 that a union leader had facilitated Yang's self-immolation, coupling the claim with a CCTV image from the incident. This report stirred controversy, leading to speculation from public figures such as the then-Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, who implied a potential conspiracy. Subsequent investigations revealed that such assertions were unfounded, as substantiated through police inquiries and testimony from involved parties, raising serious questions about the integrity of the publication's reporting.

As a response, Hong Seong-heon, the deputy head of the construction union, alongside the union itself, filed complaints against the journalists responsible for the accusations of facilitation, as well as against the implicated officials who approved these stories. This situation underscores the intense media scrutiny and public interest in labor rights issues in South Korea, particularly within the context of government actions perceived as oppressive towards worker organizations, indicating a broader societal struggle for justice and accountability in reporting.