South Korean media turned a “tax assessment notice” into a criminal verdict!

There has been no court ruling.
There has been no confirmed tax bill finalized.
The administrative process is still ongoing.

Yesterday, veteran journalist Park Cheol-seong brought attention to how through headlines and repetition, the media transformed public perception into “tax evasion” and criminal wrongdoing! He explains:

⚖️ A Tax Notice Is Not a Verdict
A tax investigation follows stages:

Preliminary notice
Opportunity to respond
Review and dispute process
Formal assessment (if applicable)
Between notice and final determination lies due process.

However, much of the media coverage erased this gap. The word “evasion” appeared first. An investigation is not a conviction.

📰 When Headlines Replace the Courts.
The concern is not about declaring innocence, it is about safeguarding process.

When an administrative step is reported as if it were a criminal judgment:

The presumption of innocence is weakened.
The right to defense is reframed as suspicious behaviour.
Confidential processes become public punishments.

Before any court ruling or administrative conclusion, punishment began;

Program appearances are being adjusted or halted
Advertisements and corporate partnerships are being modified
Public-facing activities are being reconsidered

There was no verdict. But social punishment had already begun.

🧭 The Structural Issue
This is not solely about one individual.

Today, it is a celebrity. Tomorrow, it could be a business leader or a public official.

When investigative facts are combined with large figures and emotionally charged language — before confirmation — public opinion fills the space that law is still examining. Media narratives can accelerate the judgement and when that happens, the authority of judgment quietly shifts from courts to headlines.

source:https://m.breaknews.com/1185653

📢 Call to Action!

We urge Ministry of Defence to take an initiative to reverse this media verdict. Uphold Cha Eun Woo's presumption of innocence by NOT halting Program appearances and public facing activities. Re-release the story telling videos to the public.

📌 Our Continued Call
We reaffirm our petition’s core principles:

Respect for due process and the presumption of innocence
Clear distinction between administrative procedures and criminal findings
Responsible reporting that avoids premature conclusions
Accountability for leaks of unconfirmed tax information
Fair treatment in professional and public spheres until legal conclusions are reached
Justice requires patience.
Fairness requires context.
And the rule of law requires that verdicts come from courts — not headlines.

Please continue to share and promote this petition to uphold fairness, responsibility, and due process — not just in this case, but for all.