ID :
46030
Tue, 02/17/2009 - 11:45
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/46030
The shortlink copeid
Court rejects lawsuit against local broadcaster for U.S. beef report
SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- A Seoul court on Tuesday dismissed a collective
compensation lawsuit by nearly 2,500 people against a local broadcaster accused
of inciting social disorder through its "distorted reporting."
A report aired by broadcaster MBC in April of last year suggested that those who
consume U.S. beef could contract the human form of mad cow disease. Following the
broadcast in a popular investigative news program "PD Notebook," tens of
thousands of South Koreans took to the streets to protest a Seoul-Washington
agreement reopening the Korean market to U.S. beef.
The months-long protests rattled the newly-inaugurated Lee Myung-bak
administration, bringing the new president's approval ratings to record lows.
Lee Heon, a legal representative for the plaintiffs, said the group will appeal
the ruling.
In September, 2,455 people filed a collective suit against producers of PD
Notebook, demanding 2.45 billion won in compensation for damages caused by the
"inflammatory report" that they claim "threw our society into a state of serious
turmoil."
In its verdict, the Seoul Southern District Court ruled that while the
information in the program may not have been accurate, the producers could not be
held accountable for the protests that ensued.
"Considering that the current affairs program often involves provocative and
exaggerated information, to some extent it guarantees the people's right to know,
and so the producers of the report are not responsible despite the fact they may
have aired inaccurate details," the court said in its ruling.
In rejecting the plaintiffs claims of psychological distress caused by the
report, the court said that there was no evidence proving the network could have
anticipated the months-long protests triggered by the program.
PD Notebook has built a considerable reputation over the years with a number of
groundbreaking reports, including a shocking scoop that revealed scientist Hwang
Woo-suk's fabricated stem cell research in 2006.
MBC apologized for the controversial report on U.S. beef in August last year,
saying it made several translation errors and partly exaggerated the threat of
mad cow disease.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)
compensation lawsuit by nearly 2,500 people against a local broadcaster accused
of inciting social disorder through its "distorted reporting."
A report aired by broadcaster MBC in April of last year suggested that those who
consume U.S. beef could contract the human form of mad cow disease. Following the
broadcast in a popular investigative news program "PD Notebook," tens of
thousands of South Koreans took to the streets to protest a Seoul-Washington
agreement reopening the Korean market to U.S. beef.
The months-long protests rattled the newly-inaugurated Lee Myung-bak
administration, bringing the new president's approval ratings to record lows.
Lee Heon, a legal representative for the plaintiffs, said the group will appeal
the ruling.
In September, 2,455 people filed a collective suit against producers of PD
Notebook, demanding 2.45 billion won in compensation for damages caused by the
"inflammatory report" that they claim "threw our society into a state of serious
turmoil."
In its verdict, the Seoul Southern District Court ruled that while the
information in the program may not have been accurate, the producers could not be
held accountable for the protests that ensued.
"Considering that the current affairs program often involves provocative and
exaggerated information, to some extent it guarantees the people's right to know,
and so the producers of the report are not responsible despite the fact they may
have aired inaccurate details," the court said in its ruling.
In rejecting the plaintiffs claims of psychological distress caused by the
report, the court said that there was no evidence proving the network could have
anticipated the months-long protests triggered by the program.
PD Notebook has built a considerable reputation over the years with a number of
groundbreaking reports, including a shocking scoop that revealed scientist Hwang
Woo-suk's fabricated stem cell research in 2006.
MBC apologized for the controversial report on U.S. beef in August last year,
saying it made several translation errors and partly exaggerated the threat of
mad cow disease.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)
