Former KBS President Yang Seung-dong Found Guilty Again in 2nd Trial for Violating Labor Standards Act... 3 Million Won Fine

Yang Seung-dong, President of KBS, is taking the oath as a witness at the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee's audit on the Korea Broadcasting System held on the 12th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Former KBS President Yang Seung-dong was found guilty again in the second trial for allegedly enacting the KBS Truth and Future Committee (Jinmiwi) operation regulations without obtaining consent from the members.

The Seoul Southern District Court Criminal Appeal Division 4 (Presiding Judge Yang Hyung-kwon) dismissed Yang’s appeal on the 14th and imposed the same fine of 3 million won as in the first trial.

The court stated, "It is reasonable to view that the employment rules were operated to the disadvantage of the workers, which was the original court’s judgment," and added, "The appellate court also judged that the original court’s decision was justified." The court also found it socially unreasonable that opinions from members regarding changes to the employment rules were only received and heard through the company bulletin board.

Regarding Yang’s intentionality, the court explained, "Although consultations were made with in-house lawyers and external law firms, it appears that a comprehensive legal review of the operation regulations was not entrusted," and "It is difficult to deny the defendant’s intent, and considering various circumstances and facts, sufficient intent is recognized."

After the trial, Yang did not make any separate statement and left the venue.

Previously, Yang was indicted on charges of violating the Labor Standards Act for not sufficiently obtaining consent from members during the process of enacting the Jinmiwi operation regulations created in 2018 to normalize KBS. The KBS Public Union had filed a complaint with the Ministry of Employment and Labor, alleging that KBS included disciplinary matters unfavorable to employees in the Jinmiwi operation regulations and conducted retaliatory disciplinary actions by investigating past reports.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.