hankyoreh

KBS’s “new union” and KBS 1 union block the car of KBS President Gil Hwan-young as he arrives at the building on the morning of May 19. His car was prevented from entering

By Lee Jung-gook and Kim Hyo-sil, staff reporters

Reporters at KBS launched a production boycott on May 19 demanding the resignation of network president Gil Hwan-young, who was identified by former newsroom chief as responsible for government control of reporting.

But with Gil denying the allegations and insisting that there was “no Blue House pressure or reporting control,” the network’s conflict may be set to drag out into the long term.

The mood at the network was tense throughout the day. Newsroom reporters began the boycott to call for Gil’s resignation, while Gil held a press conference to call the allegations unjustified. On the evening of May 19, Gil held a press conference where he said, “The labor unions initiated the strike with political motivations. We need to block the leftist unions’ control of broadcasting”.

Speaking at the press conference that afternoon, Gil denied the allegations of Blue House interference made by former newsroom chief Kim Si-gon.

“There was no pressure from the Blue House whatsoever,” Gil said. “As for Mr. Kim’s resignation, I never heard anything from the Blue House asking for him to leave.”

The boycott had an immediate impact on news programming, with the evening show “News Nine” shortened by 20 minutes and was hosted by only one female anchor. As had been announced on May 16, department heads in the newsroom refused to produce news stories. The KBS producers‘ and directors’ association held an emergency general meeting to approve the adoption of an “emergency committee” and announced plans for the members’ own production boycott if Gil did not step down.

Earlier that morning, KBS union members blocked Gil’s path as arrived for work. The press conference was also a muddle, with abrupt changes to the scheduled place and time.

At around 9:15 am, around 100 members of the two main network unions - the “new union” and KBS 1 union - blocked Gil’s car in the parking lot at the main entrance of the network’s headquarters. A clash ensued that resulted in the front window of the car being broken.

Vice president Ryu Hyun-soon and around 30 other network executives and senior officials joined members of the network’s safety management team to face off against the union members blocking Gil’s vehicle. Gil subsequently doubled back and entered the building by an alternate route unbeknownst to employees.

After arriving at his office, Gil announced the postponement of a 10 am “conversation with the president” that had been scheduled the day before and the 3 pm press conference. He then changed his mind a few hours later and announced the appointments would go ahead.

Fifty-four team leaders with the network’s programming headquarters, culture bureau, planning and production bureau, arts bureau, television drama bureau, radio center, and local bureau posted a statement that morning on the network’s bulletin board.

“It was the senior officials who bore a deeper and greater responsibility in the Sewol ferry disaster coverage,” the statement read. “We wish to engage in profound reflection and resign all posts. As the individual with total responsibility, Mr. Gil should take responsibility and resign.”

The statement indicated that the team leaders would be joining newsroom department and team directors who announced their resignations last week.

Thirty-three reporting, editing, and photography department heads from around the country posted their own bulletin board message reading, “We decide to join the department team directors at the newsroom in Seoul, and we plan to join the campaign for Mr. Gil’s resignation if he does not step down voluntarily.”

Thirteen anchors, including Choi Young-chul from the main KBS news program “News Nine” as well as Park Yu-han from “News Square” and Lee Young-hyun from “Newsline,” released a statement announcing their plans to join the reporters in their production boycott.

The KBS reporters’ association also held an emergency general meeting the same afternoon. The KBS “new union” plans to hold voting on May 21 to 23 to decide whether to go on strike.

Meanwhile, four KBS board members appointed by the opposition submitted an agenda item to the board that day requesting Gil’s dismissal as network president.

“Mr. Gil has committed a violation of a law that infringes on the independence of KBS,” the governors explained as a reason for the request. The item is now slated for discussion at an ad hoc board meeting on May 21.

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