The Korea Communications Standards Commission decided ‘no problem’ for TBS’ ‘Kim Eo-jun’s News Factory’, which was criticized for showing an unfair attitude by remarking ‘a mess’ and ‘forced’ regarding the selection of the presidential residence. The committee members refuted and argued between the argument that the production team should listen to the agenda and the argument that listening to opinions should be cautious.
In the episode of ‘Kim Eo-Jun’s News Factory’ broadcast on April 28, the host asked, ‘A class meeting? Let’s make a comedian’, ‘The idea itself is a comedy’, and ‘It’s all like a comedy’. Regarding the selection process for the relocation of the presidential residence, he said ‘repression’ and ‘really a mess,’ and he said ‘this is also a mess’ regarding concerns regarding the inability to carry firearms by the Joint Chiefs of Staff following the relocation of the presidential office to Yongsan.
The members’ opinions were divided on the need for an opinion statement process in which the vigilante committee asks questions to the production team and listens to their answers. Commissioner Kim Woo-seok (recommended by the People’s Power), who has insisted on the need to listen to opinions since the last Broadcasting Deliberation Subcommittee, raised a question regarding the standards for listening to opinions. Statement of opinion is a process in which the members of the deliberation committee hear the clarification of the broadcasting company on matters that have decided that legal sanctions are necessary. After the process of stating opinions, the level of sanctions is decided through discussion among the members.
Commissioner Kim said, “Is it true that we have been deliberation for a year to see the statement of opinion as the same as legal sanctions? It is very natural to receive a statement if you have any questions or necessary questions during the screening process. However, I feel embarrassed that the discussion in our committee is rigid enough to say that this is also unacceptable.”
Member Huh Yeon-hoe (recommended by the People’s Power) also said, “Every Monday’s plenary meeting, there is a lot of confusion. When doing the deliberation subcommittee, why can’t I make a statement that I can ask questions regarding when I come to this program? I think it might be something different,” he said.
Regarding the statement of opinion, Chairman Jeong Yeon-joo (recommended by President Moon Jae-in) said that he should be cautious. Chairman Jeong said, “Last year, member Huh Yeon-hoe said, ‘When I was working at a broadcasting company, I felt burdened to even be called by the audience committee once.’ At that time, the person concerned said that we need to be careful regarding how they feel.”
He continued, “In many cases, legal sanctions are a prerequisite, and the handling of current affairs debate programs in the subcommittee and the broadcasting subcommittee is different. In particular, I agree with the opinion that legal sanctions should be as prudent as possible because there are issues directly related to freedom of expression regarding current affairs debate programs in the Broadcasting Subcommittee.”
Regarding the agenda, 5 out of 9 deliberation members gave an opinion of ‘no problem’ and ‘no problem’ was decided. Member Jeong Min-young (recommended by the Democratic Party) said, “As the media, the process of strongly criticizing the government’s initiatives may be just interpreted by the other side. Some terms were used that might be regarded as not being there, but it is not a matter to be subject to legal sanctions for that reason.”
Oxychan (recommended by President Moon Jae-in) also said, “In the early days of the 5th vigilance committee, there was a lively discussion regarding freedom of expression. There was an implied agreement that freedom of expression should be widely recognized. In this case, there is no problem at all in choosing a topic.” Commissioner Yujin Kim (recommended by President Moon Jae-in) said, “I do not think that the host cannot comment.
On the other hand, Commissioner Kim Woo-seok said, “Is it normal for a public broadcaster who should keep neutrality to be denigrated and downplayed in this way? Please pay special attention to whether there is a problem with the moderator continuing to comment on a clearly inclined standard.”
On the other hand, the administrative guidance ‘recommendation’ was decided for the broadcast on April 15 of ‘Kim Eo-jun’s News Factory’, which was criticized for misleading the then-former Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon as if he had been affiliated with the Samsung Group. In the broadcast, Kim Eo-joon raised suspicions regarding the ownership of Tower Palace, where then Justice Minister candidate Han Dong-hoon was living. There are cases where high-ranking prosecutors are managed that way by chaebols such as Samsung.”
Commissioner Jeong Min-young said, “It is clear that there was no concrete substance and it was merely an excessive suspicion. I think it’s irresponsible,” he said. “At the time, the media raised various suspicions regarding the candidate for public office, and the host said, ‘I haven’t confirmed it, but I need to check this as well’ rather than arguing regarding the facts. I did not express it as if it were a determination of the .
Oxychan said, “The verification of high-ranking public officials is one of the important roles of the media. He said, “I talked regarding the problems that have been raised during the personnel verification process for minister candidates. If we neglect to look at only a certified copy of the register, the facts may be distorted and damage to the target person is possible.”
Commissioner Hwang Seong-wook (recommended by the People’s Power) said, “From the point of view of critics, it is necessary to grasp the exact facts. Even in the case of raising suspicions, there must be at least a basis for the allegations.” He said, “I think that it is a frame that is hard to find in the media, and that ‘managed by chaebol or Samsung’ is too excessive. I don’t think so,” he said. Administrative guidance ‘recommendation’ was decided on the agenda with 5 recommendations, 3 statements of opinion, and 1 no problem.
