KCSC Warns of Severe Penalties for Controversial Incidents Involving KBS and JTBC Networks

The KCSC convened a general meeting on September 2 at the Broadcasting Center in Mok-dong, Seoul. One of the topics discussed during the meeting was KBS 1TV’s broadcast of “KBS Relay Base”, which featured a performance of “Madama Butterfly”from the Seoul Arts Center on June 29. The opera included a scene where the Japanese national anthem, Kimigayo, was played during a wedding between an American officer and a Japanese woman, with the female lead donning a traditional Japanese kimono. However, the decision to air this on Liberation Day sparked controversy and was deemed inappropriate.

Commissioner Kim Jung-soo expressed that while he does not believe that “Madama Butterfly”should not be aired, he believes that the timing of its broadcast on Liberation Day should have been taken into consideration. He also requested for a statement from the relevant parties due to the program going against the national sentiment.

Furthermore, the KCSC conducted an examination of a situation concerning the news program of KBS, in which the Korean flag (Taegeukgi) was mistakenly displayed in a reflected manner during a weather segment. The decision made by the commission was that this was most likely an unintentional error in editing, and therefore, instead of imposing a harsh punishment, they issued an administrative recommendation.

Despite initial speculation, police have since verified that the man captured in the footage is not Suga.

The KCSC commissioners were unwavering in their position, denouncing the report as a blatant distortion of the truth. Chairman Ryu Hee-rim emphasized, “We have previously imposed legal sanctions on broadcasting companies that aired unverified content and have consistently enforced harsh penalties for the use of unverified materials.”Commissioner Kim Jung-soo further stated, “Our principle is to refrain from broadcasting unconfirmed reports. Broadcasting based on speculations is a risky and irresponsible action.”

Before deciding on legal penalties, the KCSC stressed that obtaining statements from all involved individuals is a necessary step. This is because the broadcasting company’s license renewal or approval status could be adversely affected by the imposition of legal sanctions.

Reference: Daum