YTN and Yonhap News TV Have Broadcast Approval Terms Shortened by 3 Months for Failing to Form CEO Recommendation Committee

The Korea Communications Commission (KCC equivalent or relevant regulatory body) has imposed a sanction shortening the validity period of broadcast approval by three months on news channels YTN and Yonhap News TV, determining that they failed to fulfill their obligations under the Broadcasting Act regarding the formation and operation of a president/CEO recommendation committee.

During its 31st meeting on August 29, the regulatory body ordered a three-month reduction in the validity period of the two companies' broadcast approvals from the original March 31, 2028, to December 31, 2027, and mandated that the violations be corrected by October 10.

The revised Broadcasting Act stipulates that news channels must form and operate a CEO recommendation committee through labor-management agreement and appoint their head based on its recommendation.

The commission explained that the two companies failed to complete the relevant procedures within the designated period following the implementation of the law in August of last year.

Previously, the commission ordered both companies in May to rectify the violations by July 31. However, YTN failed to reach a labor-management agreement on forming the committee due to differences between the two sides, while Yonhap News TV saw its amendment to the articles of association—which had gone through labor-management agreement and board resolution—rejected at the shareholders' meeting.

At the meeting, two options were presented together: a three-month reduction in the approval validity period and a one-month suspension of prime-time advertisements.

As a result of the vote, the motion to shorten the validity period received four votes, while the ad suspension motion received two votes, leading to the approval of the first option.

Some members stated that consideration should be given to the fact that advertising suspensions could inflict direct economic damage on operators and employees, while other members argued that more direct economic sanctions were necessary to urge compliance with the law.

Commission Chairperson Kim Jong-chul explained that shortening the approval validity period is not a light punishment, as it could also affect future re-approval procedures.

Chairperson Kim Jong-chul said, "We will establish the legislative intent through strict law enforcement against broadcasting operators that fail to fulfill their obligations under the law."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.