Gov't calls media workers' strike illegal, defends media ownership deregulation

By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, Jan. 5 (Yonhap) -- The government demanded Monday that media workers
immediately end their strike, refuting their accusations that it is trying to
tame and control the nation's media.
In an unscheduled joint press conference, the ministers of culture and economy
called the strike "evidently illegal" and defended President Lee Myung-bak's
sweeping media reforms under which large firms and dominating newspapers will be
allowed to own television networks.
Hundreds of media employees, including news anchors and show producers of major
broadcaster MBC, have been taking turns boycotting their work since Dec. 25,
demanding the government nullify the media law reform bill currently pending in
the legislature.
"The public must not suffer further damages due to this illegal strike," Culture
Minister Yu In-chon and Economy Minister Lee Yoon-ho said in a joint statement.
"Some broadcasters have been violating the public's right to know via their
politically biased reports on recent issues, but we once again emphasize that the
government does not have any intention to reign over broadcasters," the statement
said. "The media reform bill was submitted to parliament based on an agreement
that reform is inevitable to invigorate the media market and encourage diversity
in the media."
The media reform bill has been at the center of the partisan dispute that has
paralyzed the National Assembly since last month.
Since his inauguration in February, Lee, a former CEO and strong believer in
market principles, proposed amending media laws that have so far prevented a
small number of firms from dominating the entire media market.
Under Lee's plan, a single firm will be allowed to own a daily newspaper as well
as cable and online news channels, scrapping the current law that prohibits
cross-ownership of print media and television stations.
The proposal triggered strong concerns here as only three right-leaning
vernacular newspapers that already control nearly 70 percent of print media
circulation are said to have enough resources to enter the television industry.
The three newspapers -- the Chosun Ilbo, the Joongang Ilbo and the Donga Ilbo --
are President Lee's biggest supporters and are eager for the chance to extend
their print dominance to television.
Media unionists, however, accuse Lee of attempting to tame and control the media,
citing his recent appointment of people they see as "pro-government" as chiefs of
public broadcaster KBS and cable news channel YTN.
MBC, which is especially critical of Lee's media policies, saw sharp drops in its
viewer ratings over the weekend as it had to air reruns of several of its popular
entertainment shows. The broadcaster has been at odds with the administration
since it aired reports critical of the reopening of the South Korean market to
U.S. beef last summer.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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