MBC president under growing pressure to step down
Published on | Source
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff reporter
MBC President Kim Jae-chul is under growing pressure to step down as more than 500 program directors and technicians of the nation's second largest broadcaster supported the unionized workers' demand that its top management resign for what they call independence from the government.
A total of 261 of 346 members of the MBC PD Association have signed their names in a declaration demanding the resignation of MBC President Kim and vice president Hwang Hee-man, according to the group.
"The strike has been going on for more than a month. We PDs are in agony as we cannot make programs, but the president is not feeling the pain at all. We don't recognize Kim Jae-chul and Hwang Hee-man as MBC members. Leave MBC!" the statement said.
It is the first time that program directors have signed their names on a declaration against its president in the public broadcasting company's history.
It said Kim has refused to accept talks with PDs.
At the same time, 246 members of the association of MBC technicians also issued a statement Friday, demanding Kim and Hwang step down immediately.
Their statement came days after about 250 MBC reporters signed a statement calling for the resignation of Kim on May 3. MBC union leader Lee Geun-haeng was hospitalized Friday, 12 days after he went on a hunger strike.
"He is not in serious condition. He is on an intravenous drip. Still, he is willing to continue a hunger strike despite warnings from the doctor", a union official said.
People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy and other civic groups are also holding rallies in support of the MBC union.
They held a protest rally at Seoul Plaza, Thursday, which was planned some two months ago to fit into the official visit of Frank La Rue, the United Nation's Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Opinion and Expression.
The civic organizations notified the assembly in advance and obtained permission from the police. "We wanted to show the reality of human rights in Korea to the special rapporteur from the U.N. We have passed on the cases of YTN, KBS and 'PD Notebook' as examples of the oppression of press freedom in Korea", an official of the National Union of Mediaworkers said.
La Rue visited MBC Thursday to meet union leaders. Union officials quoted La Rue as saying that he is concerned over the use of police force as a tool to threaten press freedom.
He was also quoted as saying that it is wrong for the government or civil servants to file defamation suits against critics of the government.
The walkout of MBC unionists has been dragging on since April 5. The union is opposed to its new president Kim Jae-chul and his appointment of Hwang Hee-man, a former news chief as the vice president. More than 650 union workers are participating in the strike.
However, the company is taking a firm stand against the unionists, considering the walkout illegal and filing complaints against the 11 full-time union workers. It is also seeking damages against the unionists.
Currently, MBC only broadcasts basic programs such as news programs by non-union members and other senior officials.
Staff reporter
MBC President Kim Jae-chul is under growing pressure to step down as more than 500 program directors and technicians of the nation's second largest broadcaster supported the unionized workers' demand that its top management resign for what they call independence from the government.
A total of 261 of 346 members of the MBC PD Association have signed their names in a declaration demanding the resignation of MBC President Kim and vice president Hwang Hee-man, according to the group.
"The strike has been going on for more than a month. We PDs are in agony as we cannot make programs, but the president is not feeling the pain at all. We don't recognize Kim Jae-chul and Hwang Hee-man as MBC members. Leave MBC!" the statement said.
It is the first time that program directors have signed their names on a declaration against its president in the public broadcasting company's history.
It said Kim has refused to accept talks with PDs.
At the same time, 246 members of the association of MBC technicians also issued a statement Friday, demanding Kim and Hwang step down immediately.
Their statement came days after about 250 MBC reporters signed a statement calling for the resignation of Kim on May 3. MBC union leader Lee Geun-haeng was hospitalized Friday, 12 days after he went on a hunger strike.
"He is not in serious condition. He is on an intravenous drip. Still, he is willing to continue a hunger strike despite warnings from the doctor", a union official said.
People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy and other civic groups are also holding rallies in support of the MBC union.
They held a protest rally at Seoul Plaza, Thursday, which was planned some two months ago to fit into the official visit of Frank La Rue, the United Nation's Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Opinion and Expression.
The civic organizations notified the assembly in advance and obtained permission from the police. "We wanted to show the reality of human rights in Korea to the special rapporteur from the U.N. We have passed on the cases of YTN, KBS and 'PD Notebook' as examples of the oppression of press freedom in Korea", an official of the National Union of Mediaworkers said.
La Rue visited MBC Thursday to meet union leaders. Union officials quoted La Rue as saying that he is concerned over the use of police force as a tool to threaten press freedom.
He was also quoted as saying that it is wrong for the government or civil servants to file defamation suits against critics of the government.
The walkout of MBC unionists has been dragging on since April 5. The union is opposed to its new president Kim Jae-chul and his appointment of Hwang Hee-man, a former news chief as the vice president. More than 650 union workers are participating in the strike.
However, the company is taking a firm stand against the unionists, considering the walkout illegal and filing complaints against the 11 full-time union workers. It is also seeking damages against the unionists.
Currently, MBC only broadcasts basic programs such as news programs by non-union members and other senior officials.
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