JTBC Receives "Recommendation" as Administrative Guidance for Airing Apology Broadcast
MBC, which broadcasted a special news report and aired the collision scene during the Jeju Air passenger plane disaster, received a legal sanction from the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC).
Provided by the Korea Communications Standards Commission
On the 3rd, the KCSC held a plenary meeting at the Broadcasting Hall in Mokdong, Yangcheon-gu, and decided to issue a legal sanction of "caution" for the 'MBC News Special Report' aired on December 29, 2024. Legal sanctions by the KCSC are severe penalties that result in point deductions during broadcaster license renewals or approvals, categorized from lowest to highest as "caution," "warning," "disciplinary action against personnel," or "program correction/modification/suspension," and "fines."
On the morning of December 29 last year, around 10 a.m., MBC reported the disaster, showing footage of Jeju Air flight 7C2216 crashing into a concrete embankment while taxiing on the runway and exploding. According to Article 24-3 of the Broadcasting Review Regulations (Protection of Victims’ Stability, etc.), content that excessively emphasizes the scene of the victim with provocative images should not be broadcasted.
The broadcast also displayed subtitles unrelated to the accident, such as "Impeachment: 817," and corporate logos appeared on the screen for about one second before disappearing. Additionally, complaints were received regarding the map labeling the East Sea as the Sea of Japan.
In a written statement that day, MBC explained, "The accident footage was used three times at the beginning of the special report, but after recognizing the issues, edited footage was used thereafter." They also stated that replay on YouTube and their website was blocked, and all footage of the explosion was deleted. Regarding the subtitle error, they said, "It was a mistake by the subtitle room staff, conspiracy theories have no basis, and the anchor apologized for using a map labeling the Sea of Japan."
The commission members expressed opinions for severe sanctions during the review, citing the mental harm to the bereaved families and viewers. Chairman Ryu Hee-rim said, "According to broadcasting review regulations, during major disasters, provocative images that could harm the stability of victims and viewers should not be excessively broadcasted." Commissioners Kim Jeong-su and Kang Kyung-pil pointed out, "There was no apology or reasonable explanation for the serious broadcasting accident."
Before the review of this agenda, MBC filed a recusal request against Chairman Ryu, citing concerns over the fairness of the review, but the other two commissioners rejected the request. The KCSC, which operates with nine commissioners?three appointed by the president and six by the National Assembly?is currently functioning only with the three presidential appointees (Ryu Hee-rim, Kim Jeong-su, Kang Kyung-pil) without the National Assembly appointees.
On the same day, JTBC, which partially froze the screen of the collision and explosion scenes of the accident passenger plane and repeatedly broadcasted them several times during their special news report, received an administrative guidance of "recommendation" for taking follow-up measures such as an apology broadcast.
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