National Union of Media Workers: "Stop Political Censorship"
A broadcaster was subject to administrative guidance for referring to Kim Geon-hee, the wife of the president, simply as 'Kim Geon-hee' without the honorific title 'Mrs.' during a broadcast.
At the 7th meeting on the 22nd, the Election Broadcasting Deliberation Committee for the 22nd National Assembly election decided to issue a 'recommendation,' which corresponds to administrative guidance, regarding SBS's 'Pyeon Sang-wook's News Briefing' aired on the 15th of last month.
In the broadcast covering the Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Act, Kim Young-bae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "If Han Dong-hoon, the Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is not a bodyguard, I hope he clearly states his position on the 'Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor'." A complaint was filed regarding the part where Kim Geon-hee was not addressed with the honorific 'Mrs.'
Commissioner Son Hyung-gi stated, "Regarding the president's wife, neither 'Mrs.' nor 'Ms.' was used, and the host should have corrected this." Commissioner Choi Cheol-ho pointed out, "Terrestrial broadcasters are public goods watched by an unspecified majority. They influence public education and sentiment. The host should use refined terms." Chairman Baek Seon-gi also expressed, "Regarding the president's wife, even if the person is from the opposition party, there needs to be some moderation."
On the other hand, committee member Shim Jae-heun, recommended by the Democratic Party, said, "It was not referring to Mrs. Kim but to the 'Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor'." He added, "The term 'Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Act' is a socially established name, and there was no instance where 'Kim Geon-hee' was used instead of the honorific 'Mrs.' where it should have been attached," expressing an opinion of 'no problem.'
However, the majority of attending committee members issued the administrative guidance 'recommendation,' which was approved as is.
The SBS branch of the National Union of Mediaworkers issued a statement saying, "Is the failure to attach honorifics such as 'Mrs.' or 'Ms.' judged to violate any of the election broadcast deliberation standards of political neutrality, fairness, equity, or objectivity?" and urged to "stop political deliberation."
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