Candlelight protests focus on KBS audit

Posted on : 2008-06-13 13:12 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
Citizens take up the torch for a new cause: media freedoms

Citizens have started to take action against the government’s attempts to control the media, following an announcement on June 11 that the Board of Audit and Inspection would launch an investigation into the Korean Broadcasting System. For the past two days, netizens have staged candlelight protests in front of the KBS building and posted thousands of articles on Websites of the audit board and the National Tax Service.

The candlelight rallies that were held in front of the KBS building on June 11 and 12 focused on an issue unrelated to U.S. beef for the first time since candlelight protests against the U.S. beef agreement began on May 2. The protests in front of KBS were focused on denouncing the President Lee Myung-bak government’s attempts to gain control of the media.

As with the U.S. beef protests, a broad cross-section of the general public is urging the audit board to put an end to its investigation into KBS and calling for the chairman of the Broadcasting and Communications Commission, Choi Si-jung, who is widely known as President Lee’s mentor, to resign.

The first candlelight protest in front of KBS was held on June 11 and attended by about 70 citizens, who staged a sit-in demanding that President Lee put an end to his attempts to control broadcasters. Protesters have also locked horns with KBS unionists who have been campaigning to oust KBS President Chung Yeon-ju. Protesters shouted at the unionists, asking, “Between citizens and President Lee Myung-bak, who will the union choose?”

For two days from June 11, more than 1,000 writings were posted on the audit board’s Website, protesting the audit of KBS and demanding inspection into suspected tax evasion by Choi. The BAI was flooded with telephone calls from citizens opposed to the inspection into KBS. Over 1,000 netizens wrote articles requesting that the NTS investigate Choi and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yoo In-chon, both for tax evasion and other alleged financial improprieties.

A petition against the audit of KBS was established on the Internet portal Daum on June 11. Since then, 25,000 signatures have been collected.

The person who suggested setting up the campaign said that the inspection into KBS should be stopped in the name of the general public. The person also said that the government’s attempts to control the press had reached a climax when one of the president’s close aides was appointed to head the BCC.

More than 300 of the people who participated in the candlelight protest at KBS have also signed the petition and plan to call on the BAI to launch an investigation into the city of Seoul. The city supports the New Right Union, which asked the BAI to launch the audit into KBS.

In response, media organizations and civic groups are seeking ways to collaborate with protesters to prepare countermeasures. A civic organization formed by 46 groups nationwide whose mission is to stop the privatization of the press and promote it as a valuable public service met on June 11 to discuss the idea of staging a demonstration with netizens.

Kim Yeong-ho, the leader of the organization, said, “We should respect the volunteer actions of netizens and we should not act as their leaders. We are seeking ways to collaborate with the public.”

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

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