Court orders MBC to air correction on Yoon's hot mic report

Social Affairs

Published: 12 Jan. 2024, 13:56 Updated: 12 Jan. 2024, 14:00

Court orders MBC to air correction on Yoon's hot mic report

President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during the Global Fund’s Seventh Replenishment Conference held in New York on Sept. 21, 2022. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]

A court on Friday ordered the public broadcaster MBC to correct its report on President Yoon Suk Yeol's hot mic moment during his visit to the United States in 2022.

The Seoul Western District Court ruled in favor of the Foreign Ministry that demanded MBC to correct a news clip of Yoon's remark that came with a profanity-laced subtitle.

MBC blamed for reporting on Yoon Suk-yeol's profane hot mic moment

The content of Yoon's remark is still debated, as his exact words were indiscernible due to the loud background noise.

The court ruled that MBC should have the host of its prime time news show read the correction statement on its reports regarding the hot mic moment once at normal speed, with its title and text displayed on screen, as soon as the court's correction order is finalized.

The court also ordered MBC to pay the Foreign Ministry 1 million won ($760) a day if it does not comply with the order after the due date expires.

The controversy arose when Yoon was visiting the U.S. in September 2022.

While exiting the Global Fund's Seventh Replenishment Conference in New York, Yoon was captured in a video making a remark that appeared to be commenting on the U.S. Congress.

MBC reported that Yoon said, "If those [expletive] do not pass it in the [parliament], [Biden] will lose face."

However, the presidential office said that Yoon was referring to neither U.S. President Joe Biden nor the U.S. Congress, but the National Assembly.

The presidential office said then that the actual word used was nallimeun, the Korean word for "throw out," rather than "Biden," accusing MBC of spreading misinformation.

The Foreign Ministry filed a lawsuit against the broadcaster in December 2022 after failing to reach an agreement at the Press Arbitration Commission.

MBC had refused to correct its reports, arguing that the reports were not false.

During the trial, the court asked MBC and the Foreign Ministry to ask for experts' evaluation to discern the controversial remarks.

However, experts said the words Yoon used were inaudible.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]