KBS has apologized for mentioning phrases like “Escape is based on intelligence” in the thumbnail title of their coverage related to the group New Jins in response to viewer petitions.
On the 2nd, KBS officially responded to a viewer petition titled ‘Demand for cessation of malicious reporting and official apology.’
Previously, KBS had posted a video titled “Shaky New Jins, starting with Haerin’s escape?… ‘Escape is based on intelligence’ vs ‘Baseless, intimate relationship'” on their official YouTube channel last month.
In relation to this, criticism arose regarding the phrase ‘escape,’ and on the 7th of last month, a petition titled ‘Demand for cessation of malicious reporting and official apology’ was posted on the KBS viewer petition board.
The petitioner explained, “Despite the official statement that suspicions of rifts among family members are already false, KBS included provocative phrases like ‘Escape is based on intelligence’ to attract views and spread false information, expressing deep regret.” They also pointed out, “KBS has been continuously reporting in a provocative and malicious manner, inducing views with provocative thumbnails targeting a group that includes minors, without ensuring basic fact-checking or at least the right to reply. It is highly questionable whether KBS, as a public broadcaster, possesses the minimum standards of journalistic ethics.” They added, “We demand the cessation of malicious reporting on Minji, Hani, Daniel, Haerin, and Hyein, along with an official apology.”
Subsequently, the petition received over 1,000 agreements and KBS provided a response.
KBS stated regarding the petition, “The digital content in question was a video dealing with a dispute between Hive and New Jins related to an exclusive contract, and we intended to present both sides’ arguments without bias. However, criticisms were raised about the inappropriate nature of the thumbnail text, and in response, we have made the content private.”
They continued, “We apologize to viewers who felt discomfort due to this incident and will be more mindful in the production of digital content, including subtitles, titles, and overall content in the future.”
Meanwhile, New Jins announced last November that their exclusive contract with Adore had been terminated, signaling independent activities. However, the court confirmed Adore’s position as a planning agency, stating, “Adore has largely fulfilled important obligations such as settlement obligations under the exclusive contract, and the necessity of prohibiting New Jins’ independent singer and advertising activities has been demonstrated until the final judgment.”