[Editorial] No place for bullying broadcast entertainers in a democratic society

Posted on : 2010-06-03 12:42 KST Modified on : 2010-06-03 12:42 KST

Broadcast entertainer Kim Jae-dong, who was fired from KBS last year after issuing a critical statement about social affairs has now also given up on a cable program.

After broadcasts of the “Kim Je-dong Show” were continuously postponed on Mnet for dubious reasons, Kim announced his decision to step down two days ago. The program was scheduled for its first broadcast on May 6, but the broadcast was reportedly delayed suddenly. In light of Kim’s participation in a memorial ceremony marking a year since the death of late President Roh Moo-hyun, rumors of outside pressure have spread.

Mnet has publicly stated that there was absolutely no outside pressure, but it has become clear that Kim’s public activities have become an issue. Kim’s management company confirmed that Mnet’s production team had asked whether Kim could rethink his participation in the memorial ceremony in late April. Reportedly, when Kim did not budge, Mnet said it would decide on whether to broadcast his show after the memorial.

Mnet has also virtually admitted that it found Kim’s public activity burdensome. Such was its explanation that the delay of the broadcast was to remove any potential for political spin since the program was purely a music show.

An examination of the mood in broadcasting and the Lee Myung-bak administration’s attitude may not reveal anything striking about this situation. The Lee administration has been saying that broadcasting is occupied by “leftists” and has shown enthusiasm for “weeding out” broadcasters that are not in line with its opinions.

At the height of this witch-hunt last year, KBS fired Kim from the program “Star Golden Bell.” Son Seok-hee also resigned under pressure from MBC’s “100 Minute Debate,” when he was attacked by conservative figures for his allegedly biased moderating. The witch hunt has not ended this year, with broadcaster Kim Mi-hwa coming under attack. Amid the current atmosphere in the broadcasting sector, even if there is no apparent outside pressure, broadcasters have been keeping a low profile. The final goal of the witch-hunting is also self-censorship.

The redbaiting against broadcasters and entertainers could be viewed as attempt to bring uniformity to broadcasting, one that cannot tolerate other voices riding the radio waves. This is anti-democratic behavior that gravely threatens freedom of the press and expression.

Also at work is the prejudice that broadcasters and entertainers need to give up even those freedoms to maintain their own personal beliefs. We can call ourselves a democratic society only when these individuals are also guaranteed the right to express themselves if they are not unilaterally propagating their beliefs on air. The brutal behavior of picking out specific broadcasters and entertainers and isolating them that has been prevalent must come to an end.

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

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