Lawsuit on "Seoul TBS Appearance Fee Abolition Invalidity," Court Dismisses Saying "Employees Lack Standing"

The court dismissed a lawsuit filed by the labor union of TBS, a media foundation under the Seoul Metropolitan Government, and others, seeking to nullify the ordinance passed by the Seoul Metropolitan Council that abolished subsidies. Dismissal means the lawsuit was ended without trial due to failure to meet legal requirements, with the court ruling that employees, not the company, cannot be the subject of the lawsuit.

The Administrative Court of Seoul, Administrative Division 4 (Presiding Judge Kim Jeong-jung) dismissed on the 15th the lawsuit filed by the TBS branch of the National Union of Mediaworkers, along with the heads of the TBS Reporters Association, PD Association, and Announcers Association, against the Mayor of Seoul seeking confirmation of the ordinance's invalidity.

[Photo by TBS]

The court stated the reason for dismissal as, "Based on the submitted evidence alone, the plaintiffs lack the legal interest to file the lawsuit and do not have party capacity, rendering the case inadmissible."

The TBS labor union and others who filed the lawsuit argued that, due to the structure heavily dependent on Seoul city subsidies for the absolute part of the budget, an immediate cessation of support would cause serious damage. However, the court's judgment differed. The court said, "Even if the ordinance removes the basis for Seoul city to provide subsidies, TBS can operate using business revenue, etc. The claim that the suspension of subsidy payments would lead to TBS's dissolution (extinction) is unilateral and difficult to accept." Furthermore, it added, "(The reduction in finances due to subsidy abolition) does not directly affect working conditions."

In November last year, the Seoul Metropolitan Council passed the "Ordinance to Abolish the Ordinance on the Establishment and Operation of TBS." According to this ordinance, from January 1 next year, TBS will no longer receive subsidies from Seoul city amounting to 70% of its total budget. The Seoul Metropolitan Council's Budget and Accounts Special Committee allocated a budget of "0 won" for TBS support next year in accordance with this ordinance, and it was passed as is in the plenary session.

TBS has so far relied on Seoul city subsidies for more than 70% of its annual budget of about 40 billion won.

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