KBS Union Threatens to Strike
Published on | Source
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
Members of the KBS union said Thursday that they will go on strike if a pro-administration figure is appointed president of the public network.
The announcement comes in the wake of the firing of Jung Yun-joo by President Lee Myung-bak. Jung will stand trial on breach of trust charges.
The KBS board of directors is expected to choose among 24 candidates for the job by this weekend. Lee will make his final choice based on the board's recommendation.
Media and opposition parties members say the board will choose a pro-government figure backed by the President, following a pattern set by the cable news channel YTN, English-language station Arirang and satellite broadcaster SkyLife.
Union members held a weeklong vote, in which 85.5 percent agreed to go on strike in the case of a politically motivated appointment. KBS has 4,337 union members.
"This vote manifests the determination of union members to strike if a 'parachute appointment' is made", the union said in a joint statement. A parachute appointment refers to the naming of ex-politicians and ex-bureaucrats to head public and private corporations.
Media experts say the three leading candidates to become KBS president are Lee Byung-soon, president of the affiliate cable channel KBS Business, former KBS executive Kim Eun-ku and Sogang University President and former business CEO Sohn Byung-doo.
President Lee is expected to appoint the new KBS chief early next week.
Staff Reporter
Members of the KBS union said Thursday that they will go on strike if a pro-administration figure is appointed president of the public network.
The announcement comes in the wake of the firing of Jung Yun-joo by President Lee Myung-bak. Jung will stand trial on breach of trust charges.
The KBS board of directors is expected to choose among 24 candidates for the job by this weekend. Lee will make his final choice based on the board's recommendation.
Media and opposition parties members say the board will choose a pro-government figure backed by the President, following a pattern set by the cable news channel YTN, English-language station Arirang and satellite broadcaster SkyLife.
Union members held a weeklong vote, in which 85.5 percent agreed to go on strike in the case of a politically motivated appointment. KBS has 4,337 union members.
"This vote manifests the determination of union members to strike if a 'parachute appointment' is made", the union said in a joint statement. A parachute appointment refers to the naming of ex-politicians and ex-bureaucrats to head public and private corporations.
Media experts say the three leading candidates to become KBS president are Lee Byung-soon, president of the affiliate cable channel KBS Business, former KBS executive Kim Eun-ku and Sogang University President and former business CEO Sohn Byung-doo.
President Lee is expected to appoint the new KBS chief early next week.
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