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The main opposition Grand National Party has virtually declared war against MBC, which has been airing the BBK fraud case as its main story, inciting MBC’s labor union to fight back, saying that the GNP’s actions are akin to “media oppression.” Ahead of the prosecution’s interim report on its investigation into the BBK case, which is scheduled to be released on December 5, the battlefield of the GNP has spilled over into media.

On November 29, the GNP refused to take part in MBC’s public debate program “100-Minute Discussion.” Nine GNP lawmakers also visited MBC to directly deliver their protests to the broadcaster’s president, Choi Moon-soon. While the GNP claims its actions were justified as a way to defend itself from malicious propaganda, critics say that the GNP deserves the criticism that it is trying to tame the media for reporting on stories that were critical of Lee Myung-bak.

Cho Dong-yeop, a general manager of MBC’s 100-Minute Discussion Team, said, “With the absence of GNP presidential candidate Lee Myung-bak, we decided to go ahead and produce the program with Chung Dong-young (UNDP), Kwon Young-ghil (Democratic Labor Party), Rhee In-je (Democratic Party), Shim Dae-pyeong (National Center Party), Moon Kook-hyun (Create Korea Party) and Lee Hoi-chang (independent).”

The GNP also notified to MBC one day before the planned airing that two panelists - television actor Yoo In-chon and Park Jae-wan, the GNP leader’s chief secretary - would not attend the debate. On November 22, the GNP abruptly canceled its participation on another televised debate program over the BBK case.

On November 28, the GNP’s Secretary-General Lee Bang-ho warned that the party would probably launch a boycott of MBC programs.

In response, the MBC union issued a special newsletter, which said: “The GNP, in a panic over the BBK allegations, appears to be looking to an outside enemy as a way resolve its internal crisis. This is media oppression and malicious instigation. This is also a case of open blackmail, because the GNP is refusing to use its opportunity for rebuttal after denouncing fair reports as one-sided,” the union said.

“The GNP is also putting pressure on the prosecution by questioning the reports of its prosecutors. People may think that the party is calling on prosecutors not to announce investigation results indicting the GNP,” the union newsletter said.

The reason why the GNP is taking such harsh stance against these critical news reports is they are worried that prosecutors may unearth something volatile ahead of the presidential election if public opinion continues to call on prosecutors to step up their investigation.

The party’s fears were triggered after Erica Kim did an interview with the MBC radio program “Eye Focus with Sohn Seok-hee” on November 22, during which she refuted Lee’s claim that he was not involved in the BBK case. Erica Kim is the elder sister of Kim Kyung-jun, who is the figure accused of stock price manipulation and embezzlement in the BBK case, which also allegedly involves leading GNP candidate Lee Myung-bak.

The GNP decided to take a hard line against MBC as other television programs such as “Sisa(current affairs) Magazine 2580” and “PD Notebook” began to air their in-depth coverage of the BBK case, said a person at the Lee camp.

The GNP is considering boycotting a televised debate with presidential candidates, organized by MBC and scheduled to take place between December 1 and 2. Instead, the GNP has decided to join another debate televised by KBS.

GNP insiders say that some people at the Lee camp have urged the party to stop purchasing airtime for political ads on MBC. The GNP did not take up the suggestion, however, because of their sense that it would not be helpful, given the backlash after President Roh Moo-hyun publicly stated that he regarded the three conservative newspapers, Chosun Ilbo, JoongAng Ilbo and Dong-a Ilbo, as his enemies.

A GNP lawmaker who served on the party’s campaign committee said, “Some insiders have urged the party to gradually take countermeasures, but the voices of the hawkish faction are too loud.”

At issue is the fact that the GNP, which has strongly accused President Roh of curbing media freedom in the past, is now attempting to control the media itself, as it is highly likely that the party will soon regain power.

A lawmaker who is close to the media said, “The GNP’s harsh response is understandable because, for now, there is a state of war. But if it wins the presidential election, the GNP should change its attitude.” The lawmaker continued, “President Roh, despite some of his achievements, has been blamed for taking a hostile stance against some of the nation’s newspapers.”


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