During a tribute to former President Roh Moo-hyun at his burial site in Bongha Village, Jeong Cheong-rae, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, condemned the media for its alleged role in pushing Roh to his death. He specifically cited the controversial SBS report regarding the 'clock in the field' incident from 2009, during which accusations were made about Roh receiving a luxury watch as a gift. Jeong asserted that SBS had not issued a proper apology for this damaging report, implying that the media has a responsibility to correct their past reports that contribute to public harm.

Jeong's comments were made during a party meeting held shortly after paying his respects, where he reiterated that it was not just the prosecution that led to Roh's untimely death, but also the irresponsible actions of certain media outlets. This reflects a broader political narrative in South Korea, where media influence is scrutinized in high-profile legal investigations and situations involving political figures. Notably, Jeong mentioned that the allegations regarding President Lee Jae-myung's connections to organized crime, which had appeared in SBS's investigative program, were also unfounded, suggesting a pattern of sensational reporting.

The backdrop to these comments includes the findings of the National Intelligence Service's task force in 2017, which revealed that the 2009 reports were intentionally leaked to the media to embarrass Roh Moo-hyun and curb the influence of his administration. This historical context provides weight to Jeong's accusations against SBS, as he argues that the repercussions of their coverage have lingering effects on trust in journalism and political institutions in South Korea, calling into question the integrity of media narratives and the potential impact on public figures' lives.