Court Grants Kang Yong-seok's Injunction to Ban Broadcast Debate Between Kim Eun-hye and Kim Dong-yeon

Independent candidate Kang Yong-seok (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Tae-min] The court ruled on the 25th in favor of the injunction request filed by independent Gyeonggi Province gubernatorial candidate Kang Yong-seok against the Korea Broadcasting Journalists Club and broadcasters, stating that a TV debate involving only the candidates from the People Power Party and the Democratic Party of Korea, excluding himself, should not be held.

The Civil Division 51 of the Seoul Southern District Court (Chief Judge Hwang Jeong-su) decided on the same day, "The Korea Broadcasting Journalists Club must not hold the Gyeonggi Province gubernatorial candidates' debate scheduled for the 26th of this month excluding the creditor (candidate Kang)."

Candidate Kang appeared at the hearing on the day and argued, "According to the Public Official Election Act, debates hosted by media organizations can follow self-established criteria, but they must be fair. The Korea Broadcasting Journalists Club clearly lost fairness by introducing an arbitrary criterion that independent candidates must have at least 15% support to be invited, and did not even request my participation."

Earlier, on the 6th, candidate Kang filed an injunction request with the Suwon District Court against the Gyeonggi Journalists Club, Incheon Journalists Club, and Incheon Gyeonggi Reporters Association, which invited only candidates Kim Eun-hye and Kim Dong-yeon to hold a debate on cable TV SK Broadband. The court accepted the request, stating, "The influence of the debate on the election is expected to be significant."