KBC Considers Sanctions Against Music Camp for Exposure Incident

On August 1, the Show and Entertainment Program Deliberation Committee (SEPDC) and the Korean Broadcasting Commission (KBC, Commissioner Roh Seong-dae) decided to impose sanctions against MBC’s “Music Camp,” and KBS 2 TV’s sitcom, “Old Miss Diary,” for causing public criticism from indecent exposure and for airing a scene in which a daughter-in-law slaps her mother-in-law on the face, respectively.

In addition, KBC began examining a measure to revise a law in order to increase the effectiveness of restraints in the wake of the criticism being raised that the provisions concerning the sanctions of the current broadcasting law are nothing more than a “whip made of cotton.”

Scheduled to hear opinions and statements from officials of the two controversial programs on August 8, KBC will decide the level of sanctions at a general meeting on August 11 based on a proposal of the SEPDC.

However, the controversy over the sanctions’ effectiveness is being raised because the KBC is able to take only three types of sanctions: an “apology to audience”; “correction or suspension of the program”; and “disciplinary punishment against a person in charge of programming or an official of a program” against broadcast stations in violation of deliberation rules in accordance with Article 100 of the broadcasting code.

In the case of MBC, the sanctions imposed by KBC seem virtually ineffective as MBC has already apologized for the program on the air, temporarily suspended the controversial “Music Camp” show, and has taken disciplinary action by committing the producer to a personnel committee.

An official of the KBC noted, “The KBC thinks that the case considerably undermines the benefit of its audiences, so it is legally examining ways to order correction measures under the Article 99 of the broadcasting law.” However, even with the correction order, a broadcast station is charged only when it makes the same mistake again.

Another official of the KBC stated, “In order to effectively punish those responsible, KBC is considering imposing fine or charges and revising the broadcasting law to make it put restraints on performers in addition to existing disciplinary measures.”

Jung-Bo Suh suhchoi@donga.com