"Could Become a Reform Boomerang"...Ruling Party Presidential Candidates Show 'Temperature Differences' Over Media Arbitration Act

"Fake News Should Lead to Ruin" Lee Jae-myung and Chu Mi-ae Support; "What If the Regime Changes?", "Efforts Needed to Alleviate Concerns" Calls for Caution

Presidential candidates of the Democratic Party of Korea. From the left, former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Doo-kwan, Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, lawmaker Park Yong-jin, former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, former party leader Lee Nak-yeon / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] As the Democratic Party of Korea announced on the 25th that it would push forward with the so-called 'Media Arbitration Act' in the National Assembly plenary session, opinions among the ruling party's presidential candidates are divided. While some candidates have publicly expressed support, others have raised concerns about side effects and advocated for a cautious approach.

Among the Democratic Party's presidential candidates, those who have expressed support for the Media Arbitration Act are Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung and former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae. Earlier, on the 2nd, Governor Lee stated at a press conference, "Five times punitive damages are too low," and argued, "If a media outlet deliberately and maliciously spreads fake news, the media company should be put out of business."

Former Minister Choo also expressed her intention to push forward on the 23rd through her YouTube channel 'Choo Mi-ae TV,' saying, "Even if the amendment to the Media Arbitration Act has some shortcomings, distorted reporting and reporting that does not pursue the truth should bear corresponding responsibility to prevent infringement of citizens' rights," and added, "If there are deficiencies in the details, we can start first and then fix and supplement the issues as they arise."

Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party, is speaking about the amendment to the Media Arbitration Act at the party's Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 23rd. / Photo by Yonhap News

On the other hand, Democratic Party lawmaker Park Yong-jin publicly criticized the Media Arbitration Act. Meeting with reporters at the National Assembly on the same day, Park said, "I strongly agree with the purpose of strengthening the social responsibility of the media, but there could be social losses in the media's role of criticism and checks," and added, "I am concerned that it might become a boomerang of reform."

There were also voices expressing support for the bill itself but concerns about side effects. Lawmaker Kim Doo-kwan of the same party wrote on Facebook that day, "I support the Media Arbitration Act promoted by our party," but pointed out, "There is a fear that if the regime changes, they might try to wipe out progressive media through punitive damages."

Former Democratic Party leader and journalist Lee Nak-yeon also urged cautious handling of the bill, saying, "I hope efforts to explain and deliberate to alleviate concerns about the bill will be carried out in parallel."

Members of the People Power Party are blocking Chairman Do Jong-hwan's attempt to proceed with the meeting to pass the amendment to the Media Arbitration Act at the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee plenary session of the National Assembly on the 19th. / Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, at a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office that day, responded to concerns expressed by lawmakers Park and Kim, saying, "I thought it would be better to have sufficient deliberation procedures and consensus," but pointed out, "Given that the bill is currently at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, it is not the right timing to discuss it now."

The Media Arbitration Act is an abbreviation of the 'Act on Media Arbitration and Damage Relief, etc.' The core of the current amendment is to allow punitive damages of up to five times for false and fabricated reports by media companies.

However, some argue that such a bill could have the side effect of gagging the media. The 'Lawyers for a Democratic Society' (Minbyun) issued a statement on the 23rd, saying, "There could be a serious infringement on freedom of the press," and urged, "The Democratic Party should seek a point of contact between civil society and media organizations that share the cause of strengthening media damage relief by revising and supplementing the details of the bill and aim for the bill's approval through social consensus."

The ruling party intends to push forward with the passage of the Media Arbitration Act amendment. The Democratic Party plans to submit the bill to the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 24th and hold a vote in the plenary session on the 25th.