MBC Buckles; Union Protests
Banners hung at MBC headquarters in Seoul to denounce the probe of its report on mad cow disease. MBC aired an apology for the report Tuesday, accepting the order from the Korea Communications Commission which concluded its report false and biased. / Korea Times
Prosecutors Warn of Tougher Investigation of ‘PD Notebook’
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
MBC, the nation's second largest broadcaster, apologized late Tuesday night for its ``biased'' report on mad cow disease, which triggered the months-long candlelit protests against the resumption of American beef.
Its apology came hours after the ousted KBS chief Jung Yun-joo was arrested by prosecutors for alleged breach of trust. Prosecutors also threatened to confiscate the original recordings of the ``PD Notebook'' episode on mad cow disease and arrest its program directors. Prosecutors claim that the investigative piece intentionally distorted facts to exaggerate dangers linked to mad cow disease and defame the agriculture ministry.
Progressive groups and the broadcaster's union denounced the apology, claiming MBC bowed down to government pressure and its attempt to control the media.
MBC aired the two-minute apology at around 10:40 p.m. Tuesday, following an order from the Korea Communications Commission. As PD Notebook was not aired due to special reports about the Beijing Olympics, the apology was aired at the end of its main news program.
``Reporting Humane Society's video clip about animal abuse and news about an American woman who died from symptoms similar to that of the human form of mad cow disease, we made six translation errors, and mistakenly described `downer' cows as those infected with mad cow disease,'' MBC said in a statement.
``We also said Koreans are more vulnerable than Westerners. We also reported unilateral opinions about the U.S.' butchery system and feed policy, although conflicting opinions exist. These were in violation of the broadcast regulation for fair and objective reporting, so we apology to viewers,'' it said.
Earlier in the afternoon, MBC President Ohm Ki-young said in an executives' meeting that he decided to air the apology after considering ``the intent of the program, facts, and the future of MBC.''
Ohm added the broadcaster would come up with strengthened guidelines to boost investigative programs' accuracy, fairness and accountability. Regarding the report about mad cow disease, however, he said he thought it had contributed to public health and public interests.
MBC has dismissed two PD Notebook directors from the show, and will assign them new positions in the near future.
Unionized MBC workers denounced the management's move. ``The management has hurt the pride of public broadcasting and bowed to the government, making political compromise. Those in charge of the humiliating apology should take responsibility,'' the union said.
In a separate move from the apology, the prosecution is considering seeking arrest warrants for the directors and scriptwriters of the program for questioning, as they have refused summons.
Prosecutors have demanded they hand over the original recordings of the report, but the directors refused. Tentatively concluding that the report distorted facts, the prosecution demanded they offer evidence invalidating the prosecution's findings by Wednesday ― a demand not met.
PD Notebook has built up a strong reputation over the years with groundbreaking reports that have sent ripples across the world, such as the 2006 scoop that revealed stem cell scientist Hwang Woo-suk's claims as fraudulent.
rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr
