By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter

Some Korean-Americans plan to join in the lawsuit against MBC, one of Korea’s main broadcasters, according to Lawyers for Citizens, a local organization of attorneys.

The coalition of lawyers and a civic group, ``Nono Demo’’ are seeking $10 million in compensation in the suit against MBC’s program, ``PD Notebook’’ for the alleged distortion of facts about mad cow disease.

``A group of Korean-Americans expressed willingness to take part in the suit, representing some ethnic Koreans in the U.S.,’’ a coalition official said. The number of American plaintiffs has yet to be decided.

The ethnic Koreans are claiming they have been humiliated and ridiculed by other Americans over the turmoil regarding the safety of U.S. beef in Korea, which was partially triggered by the program.

The conservative civic groups plan to enlist about 10,000 plaintiffs demanding 1 million won each and file the suit later this month. They are alleging the program's exaggeration and distortion of facts about mad cow disease ignited candlelight protests and damaged other ordinary citizens’ livelihoods.

Some 1,512 people participated in the legal fight against candlelit protests as of August 8 and more than 70 percent paid 1 million won for the collective legal action.

The program last April gave the impression that downer cows were infected with mad cow disease and misreported the cause of an American woman’s death. A court last month ordered ``PD Notebook’’ to broadcast a correction over its ``incorrect’’ reporting on mad cow disease.

kswho@koreatimes.co.kr