Lee Kang-deok, the nominee for the new director of KBS, has submitted a request for mediation to the Media Arbitration Commission against Media Today and Mediaus. This action follows reports linking him to the Democratic Party's wiretapping allegations from 2011.
On October 8, Lee's representatives announced the submission of the request for correction and damages against the two media outlets.
The articles in question include Mediaus's reports on October 6 titled 'The Recommendation of Directors for Public Broadcasting by the People Power Party: A Reckless Move After Prolonged Deliberation' and 'KBS Members: 'People Power Party, Recommend Those Involved in the Public Broadcasting Board,' as well as Media Today's article 'People Power Party Delays Public Broadcasting Director Recommendations for Three Months... Lee Kang-deok and Jang Han-sik for KBS.'
According to Lee's representatives, the two media outlets stated that he was implicated or identified as a key figure in the wiretapping allegations that occurred while he served as KBS's political news chief in 2011.
In response, Lee's representatives asserted, 'While it is true that he served as KBS's political news chief in 2011, he has no connection to the wiretapping allegations, as confirmed by judicial authorities.' They added, 'He was not even a subject of investigation in the 2011 inquiry, and in the 2017 investigation, he was not even called in for questioning, leading to a dismissal of the case. He has not faced any legal action or disciplinary measures related to this matter.'
Lee's representatives are demanding corrections from both media outlets and are seeking 30 million won in damages from each.
Lee stated, 'These articles are malicious defamation that repeats baseless claims despite a judicial conclusion long ago that the wiretapping could not be established. This is a false and exaggerated narrative fabricated by certain individuals affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions during political struggles such as strikes to attack the company and its key executives and incite the public.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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