Changwon City Demands Correction from KBS ... "Only Media Attending Press Conference Received Advertising Fees" vs "Do Not Distort the Facts"

Gyeongnam Changwon Special City Hall. / Photo by Se-ryeong Lee ryeong@

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] Changwon City, Gyeongnam, which has been embroiled in allegations of allocating advertising expenses only to some media outlets that attended the press conference, issued a statement on the 19th to clarify the matter.

KBS reported on the evening news at 7 PM and 9 PM broadcast on the 18th that it was confirmed that Changwon City allocated advertising expenses only to some media outlets that attended Mayor Hong Nam-pyo's official apology press conference regarding the tap water larvae incident on the 23rd of last month.

The press conference, held at 5 PM on Saturday, was attended by only some media outlets, was live-streamed on a YouTube channel, and it was reported that advertising expenses were allocated to some media outlets two days after the press conference.

It explained, “Looking at the recent one-month advertising and publicity expenses by media outlet in Changwon City, 1.1 million KRW was allocated to five media outlets, totaling 5.5 million KRW,” and criticized, “From the belated official apology by the mayor regarding the larvae incident to the haphazard allocation of advertising expenses to media outlets, the 8th term Changwon city administration is out of sync from the start.”

In response, Changwon City stated, “KBS reported that Changwon City allocated advertising expenses limited to five media outlets that participated in the briefing two days after the official apology, but actually about ten media outlets participated in the briefing on that day.

Furthermore, “From January to June, Changwon City executed 286 advertisements, averaging 47 per month, and the number of advertisements executed in July was 22, which is below the monthly average,” it added.

A city official emphasized, “There is absolutely no reason to specially allocate favorable advertising expenses to only five media outlets among about ten that participated in the briefing after the mayor’s official apology had already concluded,” and “this is a fact anyone can easily guess.”

The city stated, “KBS’s report forcibly linked the tap water press conference with routine media advertising expenses, causing administrative distrust throughout Changwon city administration and distorting the citizens’ right to know,” and announced that it has requested a correction report from KBS regarding this matter.