[2023 National Audit] Fake News Debate "Need for Social Consensus" vs "Kim Eo-jun's Appearance Fee Should Be Disclosed"

KCC National Audit Highlights 'Fake News' Issue
Comprehensive Measures to be Prepared Within the Year... Strengthening Portal Responsibility

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The ruling and opposition parties clashed over the Korea Communications Commission's stance on 'eradicating fake news.' While the ruling party diagnosed fake news as causing serious social harm, the opposition expressed the view that the definition of fake news and the entities responsible for punishment need to be reconsidered.

Lee Dong-gwan, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, appeared at the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee hearing on the 10th and announced plans to establish a comprehensive plan to eradicate fake news within the year and to promote legislation to strengthen the accountability of portals.

In his opening remarks, Chairman Lee reported, "We have prepared measures to eradicate fake news, which has emerged as a serious social issue," adding, "We are operating a public-private consultative body involving portal operators and have established a fake news policy response team."

In this regard, Kim Byung-wook, a member of the People Power Party, demanded the disclosure of appearance fees for public broadcasting radio hosts who produce fake news and requested the submission of related materials.

Rep. Kim said, "Since the previous administration, numerous fake news and false information have been produced on major radio stations including public broadcasting, with hosts playing the role of an inexhaustible source," and added, "The appearance fees of hosts known to receive high fees, such as Kim Eo-jun and Joo Jin-woo, should be disclosed."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He continued, "We need to reveal what harm biased broadcasting and the transmission of fake news by these hosts cause to our society," emphasizing the point.

However, Jeong Pil-mo, a member of the Democratic Party, said, "Who makes the final judgment on fake news and false information? Ultimately, it is the courts that decide."

He referred to the 'Minerva case' and the Constitutional Court's ruling on the Telecommunications Business Act, arguing, "For the Korea Communications Commission to take administrative action on whether news reports are fake news directly contradicts the Constitutional Court's ruling."

He also explained, "In the United States, even if the information is false, if there is no actual malice, defamation is not punishable under criminal law, nor is compensation awarded in civil cases."

Park Wan-joo, also from the Democratic Party, emphasized, "Who will determine the intentionality of false and fabricated news?" and added, "There needs to be social consensus and careful consideration regarding the definition of fake news and what measures should be taken in fake news cases."