Broadcasting Unionists on Strike
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
Unionized broadcasting workers walked off the job Friday protesting the ``seven evil bills to control the media,'' referring to moves by the governing Grand National Party (GNP) to allow newspaper companies and chaebol to own TV companies.
``We will carry out the strike despite any suppression. We believe that this is the way to secure true journalism,'' the National Union of Media Workers (NUMW) said in a statement.
The bills seek to allow print media to own shares in broadcaster companies, and permit conglomerates to buy up to 20 percent of the shares of a network and up to 49 percent of a news channel.
Unionized workers at major networks MBC, EBS, CBS and SBS ― whose workers are NUMW members ― vowed to protect their companies from ``invasion'' by chaebol and three conservative newspapers, the Chosun Ilbo, JoongAng Ilbo and Dong-A Ilbo.
The government threatened a stern response, saying it will deal with the ``illegal strike'' according to law and principle.
``The strike represents certain networks using the electric airwaves, which is public property, for their personal benefits, and this is unethical and will not be tolerated,'' said Vice Culture Minister Shin Jae-min.
The strike is expected to result in reruns, or even blackouts, as many production crew workers are participating in the walkout.
MBC is in particular trouble, as its main news anchors Park Hae-jin, Kim Joo-ha and Lee Jung-min decided to leave their posts, alongside the two anchors from ``Sports News,'' Kim Jung-geun and Hur Il-ho. The production of popular program ``Infinity Challenge'' and drama ``East of Eden'' will also face problems. MBC announced that executive staff producers and also non-union members will work on some of the programs for the time being.
SBS unionists will have their anchors and reporters wear black suits during news programs to support the strike. The NUMW said that all hosts and anchors on live programs will join the ``Black Campaign.''
Meanwhile, the state-run network KBS's union has not expressed any official statement, saying it will decide on its stance in January. The KBS union dropped out of the NUMW last August.
This is the first time in nine years for broadcast networks to go on strike ― the last time was in opposition to media bill revisions in July, 1999.