South Korea meat importers file lawsuit on distorted US beef reports

South Korean meat importer A Meat, and restaurant chain Orae Dream, have filed a lawsuit against broadcast network MBC and five producers of an investigative news programme for reporting false facts about US beef.

Park Chang-Kyu, president of A Meat is seeking about KRW300 million (US$194,000) in damages against MBC, five producers of programme ''PD Notebook''.

Park said the companies suffered about KRW500 million (US$404,000) in operating losses, and lost KRW1.5 billion (US$1.2 million) in damages due to the programme's distorted US beef reports.

A Meat is the first US beef importer to sue the network over its misinformation on US beef presented in the programme.

Park said the companies suffered huge losses because the MBC report discouraged consumers from eating US beef, forcing dozens of Orae Dream restaurants to shut down, while the candlelight vigils also delayed their beef import schedules by more than a month.

Park said US beef importers in South Korea have suffered about KRW300 billion (US$242 million) in collective damages, and companies are taking steps to file individual lawsuits.

Five MBC staff, including former chief producer Cho Neung-hee were booked without physical detention on the charge of intentionally distorting and exaggerating facts about the risk of mad cow disease in US beef.

The court is expected to release a ruling on the case in the first half of next year.