Broadcasting Commission Chair: "If Channel A and TV Chosun Are Problematic, Re-approval Will Be Revoked"… Response to National Petition

Hansanghyuk, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, responding to a petition

[Asia Economy Reporter Joeslgina] Han Sang-hyuk, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, stated on the 5th that regarding the national petition requesting the cancellation of the re-approval of Channel A and TV Chosun, both parties may have their re-approval canceled if issues of fairness arise in the future.

In a response video to the petition released that day, Chairman Han said, "I am well aware that more than 270,000 citizens agreed with this petition," and added, "We will strictly supervise the general programming broadcasters to faithfully uphold their public responsibility and fairness in broadcasting and to operate in accordance with the assigned policy objectives."

First, Chairman Han explained the results of the review conducted in March for TV Chosun and Channel A, stating, "They scored above the re-approval threshold score of 650 points," and shared the background of the decision at that time.

However, he noted, "TV Chosun did not meet 50% of the score for public responsibility and fairness-related evaluation, which qualified it for either rejection or conditional re-approval," and added, "Before taking action, we conducted hearing procedures and full meetings, and decided to impose stronger requirements and additional conditions upon re-approval compared to the past."

He continued, "From now on, we will annually check TV Chosun's performance, and if it violates the additional conditions related to public responsibility and fairness in broadcasting, its re-approval may be canceled," and explained, "In the next re-approval review process, if the same items fail or the score falls below 650 points, re-approval will be rejected as a conditional resolution. Conditions such as objective evaluations of fairness by multiple external organizations and a 'three strikes' rule in the news sector were imposed."

Regarding Channel A, Chairman Han said, "The investigative ethics violation incident disclosed in March is something that a media organization monitoring power should never do based on the information so far," emphasizing, "The Korea Communications Commission considers this a serious matter related to the public responsibility and fairness of broadcasting."

He added, "However, considering that the judicial authorities are still investigating the facts of this case and the results of the re-approval review, re-approval was decided," and stated, "It was clearly noted that if it is confirmed in the future that this incident involved serious problems with the public responsibility and fairness of broadcasting, this re-approval decision can be revoked."