OBITUARY | Hwang Uiwon, A Defiant Voice for Truth in South Korean Media

[Trigger Warning: This article contains references to suicide.]

We write with heavy hearts to remember Hwang Uiwon, former Editor-in-Chief of MediaWatch and a tenacious journalist, who died by suicide on November 14. He was 48.

To those who knew him, Hwang was far more than a formidable writer and publisher. He was an intellect, a relentless truth seeker, and a colleague whose loyalty ran deep.

The Choi Soon-sil Scandal

For nearly a decade, Hwang devoted himself to investigative journalism, undertaking work that would become perhaps the most consequential of his career.

Alongside journalist Byun Hee-jae, his efforts led to a long-standing legal battle over the authenticity of South Korean news network JTBC's 2016 report on the Choi Soon-sil tablet PC.

The report presented the device as decisive evidence that Choi, a confidante of then-President Park Geun-hye, had meddled in state affairs during Park's administration (2013-17).

With numerous unverified subsequent reports linking Choi to Park, the revelations sparked nationwide outrage and confusion across South Korea. They ultimately became the catalyst for an investigation that led to Park's impeachment and criminal conviction.

When Seeking Truth Becomes a Crime

Amid the mounting public anger, Hwang and his team examined the claims in the JTBC coverage with rigor and care. They found reasons to doubt that the tablet actually belonged to Choi Soon-sil and came to believe that the initial report by JTBC was fabricated.

Yet for daring to challenge the prevailing narrative, Hwang and his colleagues faced defamation lawsuits from the network. Both he and Byun ultimately served prison terms for their investigative work — a troubling consequence for journalists in a democratic society.

*Hwang speaks at a conservative rally in Seoul.*

Weeks before his death, Hwang confided in close friends a growing despair over South Korea's deteriorating legal system. In a letter he left behind, he expressed anguish over what he viewed as a denial of due process: repeated refusals to call key witnesses and the court's unwillingness to conduct a basic forensic examination of the tablet.

Still, he fought on. Hwang made clear in his letter that his death was not an act of submission, but of resistance. At the time of his passing, he was awaiting the verdict in his appeal, scheduled for November 20.

Confronting Historical Orthodoxy

Hwang's contributions extended far beyond this single controversy, however. He was one of the earliest South Korean journalists to meticulously probe the complexities of the comfort women issue, confronting narratives he believed had been distorted.

As a publisher, he oversaw Korean translations of leading scholars like Ikuhiko Hata and Tsutomu Nishioka, bringing overlooked research to South Korean readers.

He also championed the research of J Mark Ramseyer, a Harvard academic whose positivist approach to Japan-Korean history was met with outrage in the United States and elsewhere.

comfort women — *Hwang Uiwon on the right with Professor Tsutomu Nishioka. (©MediaWatch)*

Hwang never backed down, inspiring countless others. Because of Hwang, American, Japanese, Korean, and other scholars were able to join together and support one another in their research.

In 2021, in recognition of his efforts to broaden historical scholarship in his country, he received a Japan Study Special Award from the Japan Institute of National Fundamentals.

A Vision Beyond Journalism

Beyond history, Hwang frequently debated geopolitics, arguing that South Korea's future depended on deepening ties with fellow democracies, such as Taiwan, Japan, and Australia, rather than becoming overly entangled in the US–China rivalry.

Under his watch, MediaWatch published Korean translations of books by former Taiwanese Vice President Annette Lu and Canadian journalist Jonathan Manthorpe, as well as research papers by Professor Anne‑Marie Brady.

He dreamed of one day founding a conservative think tank and fostering a network among like-minded countries.

Hwang Uiwon lived with courage, conviction, and an unflinching dedication to the truth. We are filled with sorrow at losing a brave colleague and faithful companion. We join Hwang's bereaved family in mourning a man who risked everything in search of the truth.

While Hwang's passing leaves an irreplaceable void in both the journalistic and intellectual spheres, it also leaves a profound legacy.

We will remember Hwang not only for what he achieved, but for his unwavering integrity, his steadfast commitment to justice, and his enduring insistence that society confront uncomfortable truths.

THINKING ABOUT SEEKING HELP?

If you are in South Korea or Japan and are having trouble with mental health, someone is ready to help you. In South Korea, you can find help at Korea's Suicide Crisis hotline at 109. Reach out in Japan at TELL Japan at (free dial inside Japan) 0800-300-8355. If you are outside of Japan or South Korea, please check your national health authorities for guidance in your country.

Author: Kenji Yoshida and Jason Morgan