Fairness Controversy Complaint Filed
Current affairs news programs hosted by broadcasters Kim Eo-jun and Joo Jin-woo were found to have violated principles of objectivity and fairness, leading the Korea Communications Standards Commission to issue administrative guidance.
On the 18th, the Broadcasting Review Subcommittee of the Korea Communications Standards Commission resolved a 'recommendation' regarding the September 5, last year's broadcast of KBS 1AM's 'Joo Jin-woo Live.'
In the broadcast, a guest introduced big data analysis and stated that the People Power Party's emergency committee had an '80% negativity,' which caused viewers to mistakenly believe this unreliable result was a public opinion poll. Additionally, when introducing the Korea Gallup poll results, the broadcast did not disclose the survey date, the full questionnaire, or the source of verification, prompting complaints.
Commissioner Kim Woo-seok pointed out, "Communities and blogs are so diverse that their reliability cannot be guaranteed," adding, "It is highly inappropriate to claim '80% negativity' based on unverified data." Commissioner Hwang Sung-wook also noted, "Conclusions should not be drawn from unverifiable big data. It cannot be used as reference material like public opinion poll statistics."
Commissioners Kim Yoo-jin and Ok Si-chan believed that at least the source and methodology were disclosed and saw no problem. However, Subcommittee Chair Lee Kwang-bok remarked, "If the media does not intend to guide public opinion in a desired direction, it is appropriate to refrain from using big data."
The Korea Communications Standards Commission's decisions are categorized as 'No Problem,' administrative guidance stages such as 'Suggestion' and 'Recommendation,' and legal sanctions including 'Caution,' 'Warning,' 'Program Correction/Modification/Suspension or Personnel Discipline,' and 'Penalty Charges.' Legal sanctions can lead to point deductions during broadcaster license renewal or reapproval.
KCSC to Hear Production Team's Statement on Discontinued 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory'
Regarding TBS FM's 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory' (currently discontinued) broadcasts on September 1 and 2 last year, the commission decided to hear the production team's statement.
The broadcasts were complained about for politically biased coverage, including the host's one-sided criticism of the denial of the execution stay for former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk's wife, former professor Jung Kyung-shim, unilateral claims regarding Seoul City's budget cuts to TBS, and one-sided support for Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.
The program introduced the results of a 22-country presidential approval survey by the U.S. polling firm Morning Consult without disclosing the survey period, concluding that President Yoon Seok-youl ranked last. There was also criticism for mistakenly referring to former lawmaker Hong Moon-jong's detention as that of lawmaker Hong Moon-pyo.
Additionally, the commission resolved a 'recommendation' regarding the September 7, last year's broadcast of 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory,' which portrayed the government as withholding COVID-19 related data despite the Central Disease Control Headquarters releasing daily statistics.
Meanwhile, regarding the Democratic Party of Korea's reform plan to increase the evaluation weight of party members with voting rights during leadership elections, the March 2 broadcast of MBN's 'MBN News 7,' which referred to these party members as 'Gaeddal' due to strong support for leader Lee Jae-myung, was ruled 'No Problem.'
Commissioner Kim Woo-seok commented, "The term 'Gaeddal' is a name supporters have proudly given themselves and is commonly used within the Democratic Party. It can be sufficiently discussed as it implies strong activity and leading public opinion."
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