Seoul Metropolitan Government Files 300 Million Won Damages Suit Against MBC Over 'Rebar Omission' Reports

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it has filed a lawsuit seeking 300 million won in damages, claiming that MBC's reports regarding rebar omission in the construction of the Great Train Express (GTX)-A line were distorted and exaggerated.

The city explained to the media today, "Regarding MBC's false and distorted reports concerning construction errors in the Yeongdong-daero underground space complex development project, we submitted a complaint to the Seoul Western District Court yesterday against Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), its news director, and the reporter in charge, demanding a correction and damages."

The city added that it is seeking 300 million won in damages, along with a request for a correction to be published on MBC's 'Newsdesk' and the MBC News website.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government argued, "Over a period of about three weeks from May 15 to June 3, MBC aired a total of 76 reports on the same issue, distorting the party responsible for the construction errors, linking the cause of cracks at the construction site to rebar omission, and misrepresenting normal administrative procedures as intentional concealment."

The city continued, "These reports have damaged trust in Seoul's municipal administration, amplified public anxiety, and caused setbacks in project implementation due to increased workload for on-site responses and the waste of administrative resources. We view it as a serious matter that these reports were expanded and reproduced by a specific political camp with the intent to influence the election, and were misused as a key campaign issue."

In response, an MBC official countered, "The reports related to rebar omission were of a public interest nature, raising issues regarding citizen safety. It was objective reporting based on multiple sources, on-site verification, and statements from relevant parties, rather than a single claim."

The official added, "The Seoul Metropolitan Government's legal action is an act that severely chills freedom of the press and freedom of expression, and undermines the public's right to know. We express strong regret."

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