Korean media unions strengthen strike action for media independence
The Korean media unions are in an historic strike to demand press freedom and independence.
The unions, who are all part of Korea's National Union of Media Workers (NUMW), have common demands, including the removal of the CEOs of the four media companies, the withdrawal of punishment against union leaders and the restoration of fair-broadcasting.
"Our historic struggle for fair-reporting is burning nationwide and we will eventually succeed in our fight," said NUMW President Lee Kang-Taek.
As of today the MBC TV union has been on strike for 46 days.
"The unfair broadcasting will continue in the period of the general election on April 11 and the presidential election on December 17," said Jung Young-Ha , president of the MBC TV union, in a speech at a strike rally on March 12. "This will result in an unfair election. In this situation , if we just follow the management without conscience, it will cheat our Korean people."
MBC TV CEO Kim Jae-Chol lodged a lawsuit against the union and union members, charging them with business interference and defamation, and asked for compensation for economic damages of a total of 3.3 billion Korean Won (2.2 million euros) from 16 MBC TV union leaders, including the temporary disposal rights of their private property. The MBC TV union recently accused the company's CEO of misusing 700 million Korean Won (476,000 euros) of company money for his personal use.
KBS TV union selected the strike slogan, "Reset KBS" and started a walking-protest on March 13 from the southern part of the peninsula. The protest will cover 430 km and will be held by two groups of 3 people who will walk from Haenam, the most southern party of the peninsula, and Pusan, the south port. They plan to arrive in Seoul by March 22. They will meet union members on their way and hold a picketing event with protests they meet on the streets.
On March 15, Yonhap News Union also joined in the strike, calling for the removal of CEO Park Jung-Chan and a guarantee of fair-reporting. Yonhap News Union( resident Kong Byung-Sul issued a special report which lays out the union's claims of unfair reporting on critical political and social news due to management pressure.