Lotte’s home shopping unit challenges broadcast ban

The home shopping network of Lotte Group filed an injunction against the government for stopping it airing in prime time for six months. Lotte Homeshopping has been banned from airing between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. as well as 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. for six months starting Sept. 28 by the Ministry of Science ICT and Future Planning in May for allegedly concealing the names of executives investigated for alleged corruption when applying for a broadcast license renewal. The Board of Audit and Inspection of Korea found that Lotte Homeshopping failed to declare that former CEO Shin Heon allegedly pocketing as much as 1 billion won ($0.9 million) from suppliers.The decision to file an injunction was made during a board of directors meeting in June.

However, the filing of the injunction was delayed due to the ongoing prosecution investigation into corruption by Lotte’s controlling family.