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UNI Global Union today expressed its concern that the Korean National Assembly passed a controversial media-ownership law on Wednesday without following proper procedures.



UNI affiliate the National Union of Media Workers (NUMW) says that illegal voting procedures should invalidate the law passed on July 22 that lifts restrictions on how much media one company can own.



“Aside from our concerns about possible illegal action, we stand in solidarity with you and other Korean unions in your opposition to this law,” UNI General Secretary Philip Jennings said in a letter to NUMW President Choi Sang-Je. “UNI believes that concentrated ownership creates an atmosphere that makes it extremely difficult for the media industry to maintain a plurality of voices and views and to fulfill its public service as an independent watchdog.”



The NUMW and opposition Democratic Party have opposed the legislation, which is backed by the conservative ruling party, the Grand National Party.



On July 21, 3,500 NUMW members went on strike in protest of the legislation. Another 5,000 KBS TV union members joined the strike action on July 22 to show their opposition to the media ownership bill.



The opposition party and NUMW announced immediately after the vote by the National Assembly that the process was illegal and they have sent a complaint to the Constitutional

Court to start a legal process that could lead to the bill being thrown out.



NUMW said it will continue its strike until July 25.



Besides the thousand of media workers striking, over 6,000 Korea Health and Medical Workers Union members and union president Nah Soon-Ja participated in a rally to show solidarity with NUMW in their fight against the law.



In the days before the vote on the bill, the NUMW held protests against the bill including a public demonstration where union officials offered a “wishing prayer of three walks and one bow” on the streets in front of National Assembly building in the heavy rains on Friday afternoon, July 17.



UNI and the NUMW are asking affiliates to send solidarity letters to union President Choi Sang-Je:



Choi Sang-Je

President

National Union of Media Workers

Seoul, Korea

email: swryu@ebs.co.kr





Click "Related Files" to read the letter from Philip Jennings.









Choi Sang-Je and Noh Jong-Myun at Wishing Prayer protest on July 17 in Seoul.