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| Clenching his fist, People's Power presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo speaks during a meeting with his party members at a hotel in western Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap |
By Kang Hyun-kyung
The Seoul Western District Court ruled in favor of minor People's Party presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo in his request to ban three TV broadcasters ― namely KBS, SBS and MBC ― from hosting and airing a one-on-one TV debate between two presidential candidates.
The three broadcasters were scheduled to hold and televise a TV debate between the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) candidate Yoon Suk-yeol on either Jan. 30 or 31.
In a ruling on Wednesday, the district court said TV broadcasters can hold debates and invite candidates based on their own criteria.
However, it went on to say there are limits to the media's rights to host TV debates, considering that TV debates are an effective and important medium for candidates in their campaigning, through which voters can compare the candidates and decide how to vote on election day.
The court's ruling put the brakes on the three TV stations' scheduled co-hosting and airing of the two-way debate.
Welcoming the ruling, Ahn told reporters that the old ways of doing politics and some politicians' efforts to protect their privileges have come to an end. He demanded that the DPK and PPP offer their apologies for allegedly maneuvering the situation in their own favor, limiting the public's right to know. The center-right party leader proposed a TV debate among four candidates, including Lee, Yoon, himself and minor progressive Justice Party candidate Sim Sang-jung.
The scheduled TV debate had been irritating other candidates who were not invited.
Ahn claimed that a two-way TV debate is inappropriate and can deliver the wrong message to the public, as it was to be broadcast nationwide during the Lunar New Year long weekend when families gather and share their thoughts on the presidential election.
"Holding a two-way debate only 40 days before the presidential election can mislead the viewers (particularly those who are not interested in politics and have limited understanding of the candidates) to believe that there are only two candidates running in the election," Ahn said.
"What's worse is that three TV stations accepted the offer made by the ruling and the main opposition parties designed to help their candidates get better footing for their campaigns without thinking of its possible consequences."
Three TV broadcasters said they agreed to host and air the debate upon the proposal from the two parties and that media outlets can make their own decisions about such a debate.
Minor Justice Party presidential candidate Sim Sang-jung also filed for an injunction against the nationally televised TV debate with the Seoul Southern District Court. The court also ruled in favor of Sim.
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