KBS producer launches sit-in

Posted on : 2008-11-11 13:27 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
Protest prompted by KBS’s decision to air regular presidential radio addresses and cancel 2 television programs

“Establishment of the president’s radio address and cancellation of (television) programs (critical of the government) signal the destruction of the justification for KBS’s existence.”

On the morning of November 10, Kim Deok-jae, the chairman of the Producers’ Association at the Korean Broadcasting System, launched a sit-in against plans by the public broadcaster to cancel two current-affairs television programs, “Sisa Tonight” and “Media Focus,” and its decision to air regular radio addresses by President Lee Myung-bak. Kim took action after the protests of he and other producers were ignored by KBS management.

In a statement released before launching the sit-in, Kim accused the government and KBS management of having held secret discussions about the presidential radio address and discontinuation of the current-affairs programs. “There was no deliberation on the justification or methods for the president’s regular radio address. Sisa Tonight and Media Focus were abolished without any assessment of the programs and there was no opinion-gathering process within or outside the company.”

“Except for the loyalty of president, vice president and other senior executives toward Cheong Wa Dae, there is no reason for why the cancellation of Media Focus and Sisa Tonight and the establishment of the president’s radio address were decided at the same time,” Kim said. Kim urged the government and KBS management to halt the plans, make a public apology and offer details about how the broadcaster will guarantee the right to editorial freedom.

Opposition flared when KBS management hinted on November 7 that it was considering a personnel reshuffle that would target producers who oppose the cancellation of Media Focus. On the same day, the KBS Association of Broadcasting Technicians issued a statement saying they oppose KBS’s plans to cancel the two television programs. The KBS Association of Management plans to release a similar statement on November 11.

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