MBC draws fire for ban on entertainer activists

Published on 2011/07/19 | Source

Concert director Tak Hyun-min makes an obscene gesture toward MBC in front of the building of the broadcaster in central Seoul, Monday, to protest its recent decision to ban entertainers who express opinions on socially sensitive issues. / Korea Times

By Kim Rahn

A group of celebrities have pledged not to appear on MBC in protest of the broadcaster's decision to ban entertainers who engage in social activism from appearing on its programs.

Concert director and producer Tak Hyun-min said Monday that he and 12 others will not appear on MBC shows.

The statement came after the broadcaster banned a planned regular appearance on a radio program by actress Kim Yeo-jin, who has adamantly expressed opinions on socially sensitive issues, by blacklisting her.

"The blacklist is designed to censor people's opinions. MBC officials said they devised the rule to maintain political neutrality, but actually it aims to oust people they don't like", Tak said.

The lecturer at Sungkonghoe and Hanyang universities presented a "three-steps, one 'f-word gesture'" performance, parodying the Buddhist "three-steps, one-kowtow" practice, in front of the MBC building in central Seoul.

He announced a list of celebrities who joined his move, including popular novelist Gong Ji-young, Seoul National University professor Cho Kuk, gay film director Kim-Jho Gwang-soo, culture critic Kim Gyu-hang and film director Yeo Kyun-dong.

"If more people join me, I'll announce their names every Monday through Twitter", Tak said.

One of the celebrities, Semyung University professor Jae Jeong-im who has appeared on a radio show for nearly four years, said a day earlier via Twitter that she will not work in protest against the list.

"It infringes on the freedom of speech and freedom of expression, guaranteed by the Constitution. It bans people from saying what they believe, whether they are conservative or progressive", she said.

MBC recently announced the blacklist of people who have openly supported or opposed specific figures or organizations concerning socially sensitive issues, and they cannot appear on its shows.

The move comes just days before actress Kim was to appear as a panelist on a current affairs radio show twice a month.

Kim tweeted "I'm not that scary a person" in response to MBC's decision.

Legal action planned

Regarding the list, a group of junior radio program directors of MBC said in a statement Friday, "Senseless censorship and political pressure continues to be applied. It is a result of the involvement of executives including President Kim Jae-chul".

The MBC union also said it will take legal action against management, saying the guideline defines anchors and reporters as "regular performers" and is feared to infringe on the freedom of expression.

Progressive culture critic Chin Jung-kwon said on his Twitter that he doesn't understand the list, which he claims allows the appearance of a lawyer openly making political remarks and bans that of an entertainer making remarks in the public interest.

He mentioned conservative lawyer Jun Won-tchack, who regularly appears on the radio program in question. "Jun was spokesman of the Liberty Forward Party. Why are people like Jun, who are deeply involved in politics, allowed to appear without question?"

"MBC 고정출연 제한 규정, 즉각 철폐하라!"

소 설가 공지영과 영화감독 여균동, 서울대학교 조국 교수 등 각계 인사 13명이 MBC 출연 거부 의사를 밝혔다. 공연기획자 겸 성공회대 겸임교수 탁현민씨는 MBC 본사 앞에서 MBC의 고정출연자 제한규정에 항의하며 1인 퍼포먼스를 벌였다.

MBC는 최근 방송심의규정을 개정하고 사회적 쟁점과 관련해 특정 의견을 공개적으로 지지 또는 반대하는 행위로 회사의 공정성이나 명예와 위신을 손상하는 경우 고정출연을 제한한다고 밝혔다. 이에 배우 김여진의 '손석희의 시선집중' 출연이 취소된 바 있다.

탁씨는 MBC의 처사에 반발하며 18일 MBC 본사 앞에서 트위터를 통해 취합한 출연거부 명단 발표와 함께 제한규정에 항의하는 1인 퍼포먼스를 벌였다.

그는 "앞으로 매주 월요일 명단을 취합해 트위터를 통해 발표할 예정"이라고 말했다.

탁씨가 발표한 명단에는 세명대 제정임 교수, 영화제작자 김조광수, 성공회대 김창남 교수, 김광수경제연구소 선대인 부소장, 작가 지승호 등이 포함됐다.

한편, 제정임 교수는 전날 페이스북을 통해 "해당 조항은 표현의 자유, 언론의 자유를 침해할 수 있는 독소조항"이라면서 "즉각 철폐를 촉구하는 의미에서 주 1회 참여하던 MBC라디오 '손에 잡히는 경제' 출연을 중단하기로 결정했다"고 입장을 표명했다.