 YTN labor union members fight with private bodyguards to block shareholder approval of Koo Bon-hong as YTN president at an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting in a building in Sangam-dong in northwestern Seoul, Thursday. / Yonhap |
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
Koo Bon-hong, 60, a close aide of President Lee Myung-bak, received approval to become the new head of 24-hour cable news network YTN at a shareholders' meeting, Thursday. The appointment came despite fierce opposition from the network's union, which claimed it would give the government greater control of the news channel.
At an extraordinary meeting at a building in northwestern Seoul, not its headquarters, shareholders accounting for 57.25 percent of YTN shares approved Koo's presidency in less than a minute after the opening of the session.
The meeting was over in 30 seconds with some 300 hundred private bodyguards blockading the meeting room to keep YTN union members at bay.
Jumping up onto the podium, Kim Jae-yoon, chairman of the meeting, proclaimed ``Koo has earned approval to be the new president'' and promptly left.
The shareholders' meeting was initially scheduled for Monday at YTN headquarters in central Seoul but was delayed after provoking a strong backlash from its workers.
The business-labor dispute came amid escalating concern that President Lee, who took office in February, was attempting to influence the media industry by placing his close aides at the head of broadcasting firms. Koo served as a key campaigner for then presidential candidate Lee Myung-bak.
Among the broadcasters currently controlled by President Lee's aides are Sky Life, a digital satellite TV service provider; Arirang TV, an English-language TV network based in Seoul; and the Korea Broadcasting Advertising Corporation, a major broadcasting advertising entity.
In addition, the government is working to replace the heads of the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), Korea Press Foundation and the Education Broadcasting Council.
Following the meeting, YTN's union denounced the approval.
``The process used to reach the approval was faulty. Thus it's void,'' the statement said. ``Before approval, the chairman of the shareholder's meeting should have given the union members with YTN shares the opportunity to express their opinion on Koo's presidency,'' a union member said. ``We will fight to nullify the appointment.''
Opposition parties criticized the government and the new YTN president for attempting to infringe upon people's right to know.
``The government should apologize for its attempt to oppress the press and restrict the people's right to know. Koo Bon-hong should step down immediately,'' the major opposition Democratic Party said in its statement.
pss@koreatimes.co.kr
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