'Lee Jae-myung and Yoon Seok-yeol Debate' Broadcast Canceled... Court Grants Injunction Request

On the 20th, Kwon Eun-hee, floor leader of the People's Party, and party members held a "Condemnation Rally for the Unfair TV Debate of the Established Powers' Collusion" in front of the National Assembly main building. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don, Trainee Reporter Oh Gyu-min] On the 26th, the court granted the injunction request filed by Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the People’s Party, and the People’s Party against the three major terrestrial broadcasters (MBC, KBS, SBS) to prohibit the broadcast of the 'two-person TV debate.'

The Civil Division 21 of the Seoul Western District Court (Chief Presiding Judge Park Byung-tae) decided on the same day that the broadcasters must not hold or broadcast a debate excluding candidate Ahn.

The court stated, "Broadcast debates are very important as they allow voters to make the right choice by comparing each candidate," adding, "Considering that only 40 days remain until the presidential election day, that this is the first broadcast debate between presidential candidates with very high public interest, and that it falls during Seollal, the biggest traditional holiday in Korea, the influence on the election can be considered significant."

Accordingly, the two-person debate scheduled to be held around the 30th or 31st between Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party and Yoon Seok-youl of the People Power Party was effectively canceled.