Bangtongwi, Immediate Appeal Against Court Ruling Canceling Sanctions for MBC's Violation of Review Regulations

The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) announced on the 18th that it will immediately appeal the court ruling that canceled the fine sanction against MBC's reporting.

The impeachment motion against Lee Jin-sook, Chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission, is expected to be brought to a vote in the National Assembly plenary session on the 2nd. On this day, employees are arriving at the Broadcasting and Communications Commission building in Gwacheon. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

The KCC explained that as a central administrative agency, it imposes sanctions based on the request for broadcast review sanctions from the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) in accordance with Article 25, Paragraph 5 of the Act on the Establishment and Operation of the Korea Communications Commission (hereinafter referred to as the KCC Act), and that sanctions for violations of broadcast review regulations by broadcasters are decided by the KCSC, an independent private organization separate from the government.

It added, "Although the judgment describes the KCSC as an internal office of the KCC, the KCSC is an independent private organization separate from the KCC," and "While it is stated that the KCC held a meeting on January 9 to deliberate and resolve the matter, on that date there was only the original disposition, and no meeting was held."

It also pointed out, "The meeting held on February 20 was merely a written meeting, but it is described as if a face-to-face meeting took place," and "there was an error in the judgment regarding the independent structure of the KCSC and the format of the KCC meetings."

Furthermore, the KCC deemed the ruling that denied the two-person system of the KCC as unfair. The KCC stated, "If there is no recommendation of members by the National Assembly, the two-person system is enforced, and denying this results in the paralysis of the KCC's functions and invalidates the KCSC's sanction decisions," adding, "On the other hand, the Constitutional Court suspended the effect of the provision in the Constitutional Court Act that requires a quorum of seven judges through a provisional injunction, fearing institutional paralysis."

The KCC asserted the legality of the two-person system and the necessity to clarify the KCC's deliberation and resolution procedures, stating, "We will immediately appeal and actively respond to the lawsuit."