KCSC Approves Reduced Sanctions for YTN's 'Biden-Nalrimyeon'

Reconsideration Request Granted... 'Disciplinary Action for Involved Parties → Warning' Changed

The Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) decided at the plenary meeting on the 8th to lower the disciplinary level for YTN's controversial subtitle report on the so-called 'Biden-Nalrimyeon' from 'discipline of the person involved' to a 'warning.' Photo by Ryu Hee-rim, Chairperson of the Korea Communications Standards Commission. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) decided at its plenary session on the 8th to lower the disciplinary level for YTN's so-called 'Biden-Nallimyeon' subtitle controversy report from 'discipline of the person involved' to a 'warning.'

The KCSC's decisions are categorized as 'no issue,' administrative guidance stages such as 'suggestion' and 'recommendation,' and legal sanctions including 'caution,' 'warning,' 'program correction/modification/suspension or discipline of the person involved,' and 'fine.' Legal sanctions are applied as demerit reasons during broadcasters' license renewal or reauthorization, thus considered severe disciplinary actions.

Previously, the KCSC decided on 'discipline of the person involved' for YTN's report during President Yoon Seok-yeol's visit to the United States in 2022. However, YTN requested a rehearing, and the KCSC accepted it considering YTN's management change, apology, and correction of the report content. Earlier, on March 11, the KCSC imposed severe disciplinary actions such as 'fines' and discipline of persons involved on four broadcasters?MBC, YTN, OBS, and JTBC?for similar reports.

Kim Woo-seok, a ruling party-appointed commissioner, stated, "The case escalated to discipline of the person involved because the declarant at the time showed no remorse or willingness to improve, but since then, the CEO personally apologized and took follow-up measures," adding, "Since the intention to prevent recurrence is clear, it is appropriate to reduce the disciplinary level." Commissioners from the ruling party, who hold the majority, agreed.

Yoon Sung-ok, a minority opposition-appointed commissioner, expressed a dissenting opinion of 'dismissal,' saying, "Applying different sanction levels depending on whether a broadcaster apologizes, thereby forcing broadcasters undergoing license renewal to apologize, is tantamount to coercing an apology and is unconstitutional," and, "This case has only had a first-instance ruling, so imposing severe sanctions hastily is political censorship."

The KCSC confirmed a 'caution' for TBC TV, which aired a broadcast where a reporter interviewed himself. Additionally, MBC was given a 'caution' for broadcasting incorrect information that a person who applied for KT president was Kim Sung-tae, a three-term member of the National Assembly from Gangseo-eul, Seoul, when in fact the applicant was a different Kim Sung-tae, a former proportional representative member of the 20th National Assembly.

Meanwhile, at the meeting, a proposal to amend the KCSC basic rules was reported and passed, which includes automatically ending meetings if they are not adjourned by midnight and allowing the chairperson to suspend or declare the adjournment of a meeting if it becomes disorderly.