KBS, False Report on 'Geom-eon Yuchak': "5 People Referred to Personnel Committee, Acts Undermining Media Function"
[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Yeon-ju] KBS has taken measures, including referring five related personnel to the personnel committee, in connection with the 'Geomeon Yuchak false report' incident.
On the 28th, KBS issued a press release stating, "Regarding the report on the 18th at 9 PM news titled 'The Smoking Gun is the Lee Dong-jae-Han Dong-hoon recording,' we express serious concern over attempts to cover up mistakes in the reporting process by attributing them to prosecution or ruling party's commissioned interference, and urge the cessation of such forced inferences."
It added, "Even though the news department acknowledged and apologized for the error in the reporting process the very next day, portraying normal newsgathering activities such as contact with sources as collusion or conspiracy is an act aimed at undermining the normal journalistic functions of a public broadcaster with a specific purpose."
It continued, "On the previous day (27th), through the Deliberation and Evaluation Committee, five personnel related to the report were referred to the personnel committee. The Fair Broadcasting Committee between labor and management is also scheduled to discuss this matter in depth," it added.
However, regarding claims that a 'third party' was involved in the report, KBS rebutted, "This matter is entirely an error in the reporting process," and stated, "It is very regrettable that some internal employees, the labor union, certain media, and opposition parties are politicizing this issue and unfairly attacking."
Earlier, 'KBS News 9' reported on the 18th with a report titled 'The Smoking Gun is the Lee Dong-jae-Han Dong-hoon recording.' However, controversy arose after the full transcript of the recording was released.
Within KBS, voices calling for a fact-finding investigation emerged, describing it as a 'reporting disaster.' Some also argued that KBS President Yang Seung-dong should take responsibility.
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Subsequently, the conservative-leaning KBS Labor Union (1st Union) and KBS Public Labor Union (3rd Union) proposed forming a joint fact-finding committee among the three unions as a measure to resolve the incident, but the majority union with a progressive stance, the National Union of Mediaworkers KBS Headquarters, rejected this. Accordingly, only the 1st and 3rd unions are pushing for the formation of the fact-finding committee.
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