In January, the first-instance court ruled "Violation of Independence"... Yoon Administration Appealed, Lee Administration Withdrew
Office of the President: "We Will Fully Guarantee Press Freedom Going Forward"
The Office of the President announced that it has withdrawn its appeal, respecting the first-instance court ruling that found the dismissal of former KBS President Kim Eui-cheol to be unjust. Former President Yoon Suk-yeol approved the KBS Board of Directors' recommendation to dismiss Kim in September 2023, citing reasons such as worsening management and lax administration. However, the first-instance court did not recognize any of the reasons cited by the KBS Board and ruled that the decision undermined independence, ultimately ordering the cancellation of the dismissal.
On the 21st, Kang Yoo-jung, spokesperson for the Office of the President, stated during a briefing at the Yongsan presidential office, "President Lee Jae-myung submitted a notice of withdrawal of appeal to the appellate court on the 20th," adding, "This is in respect of the court's ruling and as part of correcting the unlawful actions taken by the previous administration." Kang further remarked, "We will continue to do our utmost to guarantee press freedom and to restore the public nature of broadcasting."
The dismissal of former President Kim was carried out under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. At that time, the KBS Board of Directors cited several reasons for the dismissal: worsening management due to a large-scale deficit, a management crisis caused by lax administration, unfair and biased broadcasting, and a loss of leadership due to the separation of TV license fee collection. However, on January 16, the first-instance court ruled, "Dismissing someone for these reasons undermines independence," and ordered the cancellation of the dismissal.
The Yoon administration's presidential office appealed the ruling, but with the inauguration of the Lee Jae-myung administration, the party to the case changed, and a decision was made to withdraw the appeal. With the Office of the President withdrawing the appeal, the first-instance court ruling will stand as final. However, former President Kim's term ended in December of last year.
Meanwhile, President Lee has also submitted a notice of withdrawal of appeal and a notice of abandonment of final appeal, respectively, in the cases of Nam Young-jin, former KBS board chairman, and Kim Yoo-jin, former member of the Korea Communications Standards Commission, who had been involved in similar lawsuits.
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