News

The President of National Union of Media Workers, NUMW, and the President of KBS New Union have been on hunger strike since 29 May to call for a national investigation at the National Assembly concerning the control the Korean government is exercising over media.



Affiliates of NUMW have joined the general strike during the spring with some of the unions now going into their sixth month of strike. This is a historical protest in the Korean media industry to defend media independence and freedom of speech. NUMW demands to guarantee fair reporting and broadcasting, and the withdrawal of CEOs nominated through undemocratic processes which undermine the democracy and fairness of public broadcasting.



NUMW and its member unions have organised rallies and press conferences to raise awareness of the public on these issues as well as to demand the government to take action. From May 23 onwards NUMW is holding daily press conferences to bring about change on how CEOs in public broadcasting are nominated. Bro.Lee Kang-Taek of NUMW said "We need to implement a new regulation and legislation through social consensus on nomination of the CEOs and management of public broadcasting and to call for reinstatement of dismissed media workers in the fighting for the freedom of speech.”



After the General Election on April 11, the new National Assembly with newly elected lawmakers will convene an opening ceremony from June 15.



UNI MEI stands in solidarity with its affiliate NUMW and supports them in their struggle for freedom of speech and media independence.