Action Taken Against 32 Cases of Unfair Election Surveys Related to the 7th Local Elections

= IENDC Responds Strictly to Unfair Election Reporting =

On January 24th, the Internet Election News Deliberation Commission (IENDC) requested 31 internet media outlets that interpreted and reported results of election surveys related to the 7th nationwide simultaneous local elections to do so fairly, even if the survey is within the margin of error, and asked them to prevent any issues from reoccurring. 

These outlets reported on the results of an election survey regarding the election of the governor of North Gyeongsang province. Despite the fact that the result was within the margin of error, they posted information that could have been misleading, for example saying  “Candidate A First Place” “Candidate A Holds a Lead” and “Candidate A’s Name in First Place.”    

Article 8 of the Public Official Election Act (Responsibilities of Press for Fair Reports) imposes regulations on Internet media outlets for fair reporting and Article 5 of the ‘Regulations on Internet Election News Reporting and Deliberation Standards’ (Election Survey Reporting) states that, when interpreting results of opinion polls, if the difference between political parties or candidates is clearly within the range of a sampling error then explicitly stating there is a leading candidate is unfair reporting. 

IENDC officials stated that election surveys for elections for public offices are a major concern to voters and can have a significant impact on the election, so the Public Official Election Act and the ‘Regulations on Internet Election News Reporting and Deliberation Standards’ demand strictness in interpreting election surveys. 

In addition, the IENDC issued a warning to internet media outlet Naju Today regarding their articles entitled ‘Candidate A’s Daughter Scandal, If True He Should Apologize to the Public’ (January 13) and ‘Sexual Self-determination and the Ethics and Morals of Human Society!'' (January 21). The IENDC found that these reports, which could have an adverse effect on a voter''s judgment, by exaggerating and releasing unconfirmed facts regarding a candidate’s immediate family that are irrelevant to the candidate’s ability to perform their public duty.

The IENDC announced that it would respond strongly to false or slanderous reports or biased reports about certain parties or candidates regarding the upcoming local elections, and plans to establish an environment for just and fair election reporting.​