(TELEVISED REBUTTAL)

Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS)
October 27, 2005

On August 27, 2005, Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS), a South Korean television network, aired a feature on SGI-Korea titled "Nam-myoho-renge-kyo: A Perspective on SGI-Korea" in its regular program In the Know (time slot: Saturdays, 10:50 to 11:50 pm). The feature was a grossly distorted coverage of the organization and contained numerous factual errors. SGI-Korea sought redress under the Press Arbitration and Remedies Act and filed a claim with the Press Arbitration Commission, which hears cases of personal rights violations by the media. On October 27, 2005 the commission ordered SBS to broadcast a segment correcting the errors in the feature. Pursuant to this order, SBS aired a retraction on its November 5, 2005 In the Know, in which a newscaster simultaneously read out the errors contained in the feature and the necessary corrections as the script appeared in large captions on the screen.

The following is the Press Arbitration Commission's decision concerning the television program, "Nam-myoho-renge-kyo: A Perspective on SGI-Korea," which was aired by SBS on November 5, 2005.

According to Chung Cheong College's official documents, it is clear that the conferment of an honorary professorship on SGI President Daisaku Ikeda in 1998 was made on the premise that as Soka University's founder, he has been an active contributor in the fields of world peace, culture and education. The conferment also recognized his internationally acclaimed scholarly achievements, his lofty moral stature and his contributions to the building of a world culture.

SGI-Korea has never been involved in the politics of Korea or any of the country's elections. It has not intervened in any presidential election on SGI President Ikeda's instructions.

SGI-Korea embraces Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism that is based on the Lotus Sutra, a doctrine transmitted from India to Japan through China and Korea. It is not a Japanese religion and the SGI does not worship the Sun Goddess (Tensho Daijin) or the Great Bodhisattva Hachiman inscribed in the mandala(*).

It is also clear that first Soka Gakkai President Makiguchi has never shifted the blame for the Greater East Asia War on its victim countries, including Korea.

This text is made pursuant to the mediation decision rendered by the Press Arbitration Commission.

(*)Referring to the Gohonzon, the fundamental object of respect in Nichiren Buddhism.