hankyoreh

The sudden replacement of Kim Je-dong, the MC of a popular KBS2TV weekend primetime program “Star Golden Bell,” is generating controversy. It is said KBS informed Kim of the move just three days prior to his last taping. According to the president of Kim’s management company, this is the first case he has seen of someone being notified of a switch just a few days prior to a taping. Moreover, KBS’s explanation for this irregular move is unconvincing. The reason cited by KBS, that Kim had done the program for too long, does not justify this surprising switch.

It is not unreasonable that many netizens suspect KBS has had problems with Kim’s political and social comments. Ever since Lee Byung-soon was appointed by the Lee administration and took over as KBS president, KBS has been weeding out entertainers who are critical of the current administration, as is the case with Yoon Do-hyun . Yoon, who earned the administration’s attention by participating in the candlelight vigil demonstrations last summer, stepped down in April from hosting “Yoon Do-hyun’s Love Letter.” In addition, all scheduled appearances on KBS to discuss the release of his eighth album, “Coexistence,” have been canceled.

There is sufficient reason to suspect Kim’s replacement is along the same lines. In May, Kim MC’d the funeral procession of late President Roh Moo-hyun. In addition, on the matter of the Ssangyong Motors strike, Kim had said, “Let us not forget Ssangyong or forget the fact that at any time we could all become an underdog.” He also attended the cultural festival marking the recent launch of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation. From the time he participated in Roh’s memorial service, many have been concerned that KBS would replace him because the public has already been witness to how the current Lee administration has driven entertainers and broadcasters who are politically or socially critical like Yoo off the broadcast stage.

This is unfortunate on the part of KBS, which calls itself a public broadcaster. Public broadcasting is supposed to represent the public, not be the bugler of the administration. How can a broadcaster that kicks an MC out of hosting an entertainment program based on his opinions on current affairs be called a public broadcaster? Forcing out Kim is the same as KBS declaring it is abandoning the mission of serving as a public broadcaster.

It seems the Lee administration believes that it can respond to public criticism by kicking critical figures off of television and packing in figures to its liking in order to quiet public criticism. The collapse of KBS’s credibility, however, shows that the administration’s expectations are mistaken. KBS needs to wake up.

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