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Since May 29, 2008, YTN union began to face difficulties when the Korean government nominated Mr. Koo Bon-Hong, a former aide to the South Korean President, to be the new CEO of Yonhap Tongsiin News Broadcasting (YTN). After his inauguration, YTN union has been put under constant pressure and the management had since dismissed six union leaders and taken disciplinary action on 33 union members. Another 12 union members had also been taken to court by the management.

The dispute between the YTN Union and the management was a result of tensions over the country’s media reforms which raised the union’s concerns over editorial and journalistic integrity and press freedoms.

According to the Journalists’ Association of Korea (JAK), a five day closed door negotiation concluded on 1^st April 2009 with a nine-point agreement between the YTN Union and the management to develop and implement a code for editorial independence at the broadcaster.

The management has withdrawn all legal complaints against the union and YTN Union has now resumed working, ending the 11 day strike at the broadcaster.

It is expected that Mr Noh Jong-Myun will also be released from the detention facility after 12 days of custody but there remains uncertainty as to whether the case against him would be fully closed.

It is also unclear at this moment whether the six sacked journalists would be reinstated by the courts.

YTN Union has requested UNI Apro to report the situation of YTN Union at the 11^th UNI Apro Executive Committee, 29-30 March, 2009. The UNI Apro Executive Committee adopted the solidarity support statement as an expression of their concern and support to YTN Union’s struggles on behalf of the dismissed and detained officials as well as their call for press freedom.

(To read the full solidarity statement for YTN Korea Union, click on Related Articles)