Court Approves Shim Sang-jung's Injunction to Ban Broadcast of 'Two-Party TV Debate'

Simsangjeong, the Justice Party presidential candidate, is announcing the 'Greenomics Green Economy Pledge' at the National Assembly on the 10th. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

The court granted a provisional injunction filed by Sim Sang-jung, the presidential candidate of the Justice Party, seeking to prohibit the two-person TV debate between Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung and People Power Party candidate Yoon Seok-youl on the three major terrestrial broadcasters.

On the 26th, the Seoul Southern District Court ruled that broadcasters must not hold or air a debate featuring only the two candidates, excluding candidate Sim.

The court stated, "Although there is some necessity for a two-person debate, this debate arbitrarily excluded the creditor (candidate Sim) without reasonable grounds, targeting only candidates Lee Jae-myung and Yoon Seok-youl, thereby violating the creditor's right to equality, the right to participate in debates under the Public Official Election Act, and the voters' right to know," adding, "This exceeds the discretionary authority held by media organizations."

Previously, the Seoul Western District Court also granted a provisional injunction filed by Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the People Party, and the People Party, seeking to prohibit the two-person TV debate on the three major terrestrial broadcasters.