The Internet Election News Deliberation Commission, under the umbrella of the NEC, issued warnings to two internet media companies which carried unfair coverage about pre-candidates who are likely to stand for the by-election of National Assembly members on April 27, 2011.

The Commission issued a warning to Geochang internet newspaper(gcinews.asia), which carried the article promoting a certain potential candidate who will likely to stand for Gimhae-si B electoral district, Gyeongsangnam-do, in violation of Article 8 (‘Responsibilities of Press for Fair Reports’) of the Public Official Election Act.

A warning was also issued to Kspnews(kspnews.com), citing the same Article. The online news provider, despite the law that prohibits the media from featuring the column written by pre-candidates from 90 days prior to Election Day, ran the article of one pre-candidate criticizing another pre-candidate from a different party, expected to stand for Bundang-gu B electoral district, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do.

The Commission said that it augmented the team in charge of overseeing Internet election news coverage since February to intensify its effort to monitor the Internet media of the region which will hold the by-elections in April.

The Commission urged the Internet media to be more mindful of the law imposing a ban on carrying the news articles under the names of candidates or pre-candidates (including those wishing to be candidates) from 90 days prior to Election Day.