Prosecutors have arrested three producers and two writers who were involved in the production of MBC investigative journalism program “PD Notebook”‘s episode on Mad Cow Disease.
Investigators also seized computers and documents from their homes.
Needless to say, the remaining producers, the media workers’ union, and civic groups are not happy.
Neither am I, for that matter, even though I happened to believe the charges leveled against PD Notebook by the government, namely, that the program intentionally mistranslated material and exaggerated the dangers of US beef for reasons known only to the PD Notebook’s producers. It seems to me that if PD Notebook lied, it should pay the price in the network ratings, not in a criminal investigation. If beef importers were hurt, they can sue. But this just looks heavy-handed, especially at a time when the government is under enough fire for the arrest of YTN union head Roh Jong-myun.
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Robert, the prosecutions may be “a bit much” if journalism is simply another form of entertainment for the masses.
Albeit, much of journalism has in fact sunk to that level in the past two decades. But if we are to aspire that journalism is meant to accurately inform and enlighten, then PD Notebook, etc. should — and must — be held to a higher standard than game shows.
Furthermore, if the PD Noetbook producers knowingly lied to the public for political purposes that whipped up mass hysteria and in so doing damaged S Korea’s political and economic interests for the sake of a cynical political faction’s interests, I think we have some serious issues that need considered responses to discourage any group from repeating this kind of political stunt again.
Korea needs to raise its ethical standards of journalism if only because in the long run it cannot afford not to do so. Korea is too small of a country to engage in this kind of intramural activities as the world watches on with amusement and sometimes disgust.
It is one thing to face retribution for publishing the truth or even broadcasting errors, if done in good faith. But this is the case of smear tactics taken to the national televised level that is taken to be credible by the masses, without apparent sense of ethical responsibility.
As much I consider myself a staunch free speech advocate, I don’t think free expression rights cover cynical liars and slanderers. As such, I hope the producers are prosecuted to the fullest if only to set an example for more responsible journalism, regardless of the subject or political slant of the coverage.
I’d be the first to agree that Korean journalism has to raise its standards. But the broadcast media isn’t the only problem in this regard. In fact, one could argue that they aren’t even the worst offender. Didn’t we go through all this BS with the Roh administration, only Roh and Co. went after the conservative print media? Conservative newspapers, liberal broadcasters, lefty Internet media… they all distort the truth, and I don’t trust the government to correct the problem in a politically neutral fashion.
Robert, I see your point, but I was stopped on the streets last year sand told “Tell President Bush not to poison Koreans!” and had students yell at me in class that “America is sending poison beef to us!” because “my senior told me it’s true!” One girl said, “My major is biology, so I know that these facts are accurate!” Fuck PD Notebook and all the hysteria they caused. I’m totally against the arrest of Minerva, but these PD Notebook guys? Send their asses to jail.
A bit off-topic, but does anyone know this story about imported US oranges being doused in dangerous preservatives(or pesticides, I’m not sure) way back? This was brought up in some discussion with a few Korean international students as evidence that “미국놈은 돈에 미쳐서 돈이 되는건 뭐든지 한다.”
Apparently, it was during the 전두환 era.
Don’t know about the oranges, but as for 미국놈은 돈에 미쳐서 돈이 되는건 뭐든지 한다, it takes one to know one, I suppose.
The solution is not jail time but law suits and fines that will put them in the poor house for at least a few years and make other shows to think twice before making such reports without facts to back them up.
One of the many ironies of the conversation being, of course, that the person who said that is a huge DJ Doc fan who knows all of their songs by heart.
…
The reference might be lost, so I’ll write the pertinent lyric here: “내 나이 21 / 나의 눈에 비친 세상 / 돈에 돈에 의한 돈을 위한 세상!”
I think criminal prosecution is a bit too much. A nice, big, fat fine that will
1. cause the assholes to lose their jobs
2. prevent the said assholes from ever getting a job in broadcasting and
3. demonstrate to other Korean media organizations that when you’re allowed to use the public radio frequency spectrum, you better make sure you’re not spewing bullshit
sounds good to me.
Truly, truly ironic that in slamming the US, Korean students would dredge up a false allegation started by a Korean consumer group, which claimed that US grapefruit was contaminated with Alar. Alar was used on apples, not citrus.
Hmm… anything older than that? The guy said it was during Chun’s regime, so it can’t be 1989…
I dunno it’ll be in the english-language newspapers. I was kinda hoping that older people who were alive during Chun era will remember.
Hmm… anything older than that? The guy said it was during Chun’s regime, so it can’t be 1989…
I dunno it’ll be in the english-language newspapers. I was kinda hoping that older people who were alive during Chun era will remember.
The guy may be confused about the time period.
# 7 Andy Jackson
I think it was Korean Americans(2,500 of them) that already tried but failed, at least the first round.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/02/117_39733.html
coyner rightly points to the standard to be held to. throw them in jail for a while and set precedent.
of course, if we look at the corrupt chaebol criminals who have stolen extensively from shareholders and bribed government officials, the most we can expect is a fine and some public service.
be on the lookout for pd diary producers checking in soon to a hospital near you!
The root of all this is protectionism. And on that issue, we all realize Korea’s collective ass is hanging out there waiting for the US or China to slap it at all times. It’s no damn wonder Koreans are happy to hear that imported Chinese kimchi has shit in it or that US beef is contaminated. All they have to do is listen to the higher standard US news media to hear all about the latest recall and the people killed by e-coli, melamine or lead.
Last summer, they were also pissed off about 2MB trying to shove policies he made with Bush/Cheney down their throats. Koreans may need to protect themselves from out of control import sources like the US and China. And by CEO neo-dictator governance style.
That said, MBC screwed up and they do need to be taken to task.
Sure, this should be solved in civil court…not that I expect a Korean judge to ever rule in favor of American producers of beef.
PS. Canada is considering bringing up Korea’s ban of its beef to the WTO.
I tend to agree with Mr. Coyner.
This case originated with a libel suit by then agriculture minister 정운천 전 농림수산부 장관. (BTW, When government functionaries sued the Chosun Ilbo during KDJ, the Chosun got the IPI to issue a statement saying “it can be a form of harassment” when a high-ranking member of a govt sues the media.)
The first team of prosecution investigators concluded there weren’t any worthwhile charges.
Now suddenly there’s a new group of investigators put on the case.
They arrest a producer many, many months after the program in question, applying for a warrant only after arresting him in front of his wife and home, only to release the guy a few days later in response to the outcry.
Mr. Coyner’s response is to complain about Korean journalism.
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