With 'MBC Legal Action'... Opposition Responds with 'Park Jin Dismissal Proposal' (Comprehensive)

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 26th and delivering a speech. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The ruling party has raised suspicions of a 'collusion of words' between MBC, which first broadcast the 'profanity controversy,' and the Democratic Party of Korea, vowing to take legal action if necessary. In response, the Democratic Party has pressured the president with a motion to dismiss Foreign Minister Park Jin, who is responsible for the current diplomatic tour.

On the same day, members of the People Power Party's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee held a meeting at the National Assembly, demanding an apology broadcast from MBC, stating, "MBC aired news with false subtitles of private conversations between President Yoon Seok-yeol and his close aides while moving after a meeting with President Joe Biden."

They pointed out, "Maliciously inserted parentheses that awkwardly stated '(America)' out of context, and especially processed President Yoon's remark about 'losing the budget' as 'Biden' in the subtitles with ill intent," calling it "a serious manipulated broadcast that will remain a dark chapter in the history of Korean media."

They also raised suspicions of collusion of words. The committee members said, "The embargo on the video was at 9:39, but Democratic Party floor leader Park Hong-geun specifically mentioned the video and criticized it as 'vulgar language' at 9:33, earlier than the embargo time," pointing out that "this is evidence of ‘collusion of words’ where MBC is colluding with the Democratic Party to manipulate public opinion."

The committee members announced demands including ▲ an apology broadcast from MBC ▲ resignation of President Park Sung-je ▲ defamation lawsuit ▲ correction report and claim for damages ▲ filing a complaint with the Korea Communications Standards Commission ▲ strict measures against embargo leaks, warning, "This is not something MBC can simply gloss over with an explanation or correction. The People Power Party will focus all its capabilities to hold MBC strictly accountable for the false report."

At the emergency committee meeting held that morning, floor leader Joo Ho-young also said, "MBC framed President Yoon Seok-yeol with 'profanity' in the tour report without verifying the facts," and announced plans to visit in protest.

On the other hand, the opposition party aggressively demanded the dismissal of Minister Park regarding President Yoon Seok-yeol's 'profanity controversy,' stating that if no decision is made by the end of the day, they will file a motion for dismissal on the 27th.

Democratic Party floor leader Park Hong-geun said at the Democratic Party's Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that day, "We urge the immediate dismissal of Minister Park, who is the overall person responsible for the tour, and the complete replacement of the troika related to the diplomatic and security disaster, including National Security Office Chief Kim Seong-han, Deputy Kim Tae-hyo, and Public Relations Chief Kim Eun-hye," adding, "If President Yoon does not make a decision by today, the Democratic Party will file a motion to dismiss the Foreign Minister tomorrow to restore the broken public trust and correct South Korea's diplomatic policy."