The Lee government’s push to turn even MBC into an administration sycophant, after having done so successfully at KBS, is reaching an extreme level. Without opposition party directors in attendance, the Foundation for Broadcast Culture (FBC) convened a Board of Directors meeting yesterday and unilaterally decided the director lineup of MBC for which individuals would be entrusted with the chief positions in the news, production and broadcasting headquarters. It simply walked over the long-held practice, maintained in order to keep the independence and autonomy of broadcasting, of confirming names proposed by the MBC president. It was a naked expression of the will to directly control the heart of broadcasting while ignoring President Um Ki-young. After the meeting, Um expressed concern about the FBC and announced his intention to resign.

The FBC may think it can now hold MBC in the palm of its hand. FBC Board of Directors Chairman Kim Woo-ryong has taken the position that Um’s resignation has become immediately effective. This, however, is a big mistake. The MBC Union immediately announced its intention to block the newly selected members from entering the office and began preparations for a general strike. The National Union of Media Workers released a statement declaring a solidarity struggle. Media-related civic groups also called the move an act to harm the autonomy of the organization and production of public broadcasting, and said they cannot just stand by and do nothing. The fight to protect the independence of broadcasting against an underhanded attempt to turn MBC into an administration trumpet has become unavoidable.

If the FBC, led by pro-government forces, directly controls MBC, it is very possible that South Korean public broadcasting could regress to its position during the time of military dictatorship. The reality of KBS, which has been blatantly engaging in pro-government propaganda since a former presidential aide of President Lee Myung-bak was named head of the company through a parachute appointment, is solid evidence of that possibility. If those responsible for news and production, the heart of broadcasting, are also in-line with the ruling government’s views, MBC could also easily head in the direction of KBS, no matter how much its members resist. It is clear current events programs like “PD Notebook,” which the Lee administration considers a thorn in the eye, will be at risk, and news that monitors and criticizes the government will disappear.

The Lee administration’s wish to take over broadcasting is no different from a rejection of democracy, which thrives on healthy criticism. If the administration respects democracy, it must abandon its attempt to take over MBC. The FBC must also withdraw its mistaken decision. Those who must step down do not include MBC President Um, but rather the pro-government directors of the FBC, including Chairman Kim Woo-ryong.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]