Court Dismisses Park Jang-beom's Injunction Request, Ruling No Flaws in KBS Board Resolution

An injunction request filed by KBS President Park Jang-beom to halt the procedures for appointing a new KBS president by the board of directors has been dismissed.

The 51st Civil Division of the Seoul Southern District Court (Presiding Senior Judge Kwon Sung-su) dismissed the injunction application filed by President Park today (October 2) to suspend the effect of the board's resolution.

Previously, the KBS board of directors, formed under the amended Broadcasting Act, unanimously voted on August 26 on the procedures and methods for recommending the appointment of a new president.

In response, President Park filed an injunction lawsuit seeking to halt the board's procedures for selecting a new president.

His argument was that it was legally and procedurally inappropriate to vote on the procedures for recommending a new president when the 15-member board was operating with an 8-member system.

The KBS board currently has 7 vacant seats, with directors yet to be decided: 2 recommended by the People Power Party, 2 by the KBS Viewers' Committee, and 3 by KBS executives and employees.

During the hearing, President Park's legal representative argued, "It was wrong for eight members, failing to meet the board's voting quorum, to vote on a procedure that substantially determines the appointment of the president," adding, "It is problematic for the new directors to vote on the appointment procedure for a new president at a time when it is unclear whether the duties of the previous directors had officially ended prior to the amendment of the Broadcasting Act."

However, the court ruled that starting from July 21, when eight new directors—more than half of the total quota—began their terms, it became possible for the succeeding board to be formed and perform its functions in accordance with the amended Broadcasting Act.

The court determined that this did not constitute a failure to meet the voting quorum.

The court based its decision on several factors: if the status of the former directors were deemed to continue, the board's total membership would exceed 15, violating Broadcasting Act regulations; and the former directors appeared to have raised no particular objections regarding the termination of their duties after the formation of the succeeding board.

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