The Last Hope: MBC Media Workers Struggle against the Government's attempt to Control Right of Speech

* Image source: Hankyoreh, March 3, 2010

'Kim Jae-chul, the new president of MBC, is blocked by MBC Union members
in front of the broadcaster’s headquarters in Seoul’s Yeouido, Mar. 3.'


A MBC Union worker announcing the MBC union workers' determination to fight against
the government & corporation control of media rights in the rally for keeping democracy and
against the Lee Myung-bak government on Feb. 20, 2010.
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It has been more than a year that the media workers in the main broadcasting companies in South Korea have fought against the government attempt to control the right of speech in the broadcasting companies.

One of the most representing examples happened during the people’s mass resistance against the US beef import under the suspicion of mad cow disease. The ‘PD Notebook’, a renowned investigative news show, MBC program had reported about the issues and problems of the US beef import and the Lee Myung-Bak government indicted the producer and writer of the program to the court. (However, the court judged ‘no guilty’ to the indicted at the end of last month.)

The Lee government has begun to plant his parachute personnel as the presidents of the cable and broadcasting companies including YTN, KBS and others, despite strong resistance of the union workers there and on July 22, 2009, finally passed the vicious media bill in which most the media was aimed under the control of government, corporations and right wing media.

Not only main broadcasting companies, but people's media have been severely oppressed regarding the right of speech as well. See HERE.

The MBC is the last one among the main broadcasting companies that the Lee government attempts to control the free speech right by putting Lee’s acquaintance to the president of the MBC.

It is sorry that I could find MBC’s Youtube message a year ago (before the pass of vicious media law), only today. In the video below, you can hear MBC union workers’ fighting words against the Lee government and appeal to the people in the world, in each of English, Chinese, French, Spanish, and Japanese, following the Korean remarks. Please wait for the languages other than Korean with patience. The Youtube up-loader thankfully translated all the words in English. I copy his/her description here.

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‘Korean MBC Message to the world 'fight against Control of Speech in Korea'
(video URL, Feb 27, 2009)



‘http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/341254.html
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/341029.html
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/331095.html
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/330938.html

This isn't the world's best video describing what's happening in South Korea but this is the only video we have at the moment. Yes, it's bit amatuer but even this video is being deleted by the Korean search engine sites like Naver.com by the pressure of the Korean government. I did add English subtitles and it would be great if other people can help me to translate what they are saying in other languages. Thanks

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/341028.htmlMBC
calls on the world to fight against the bill
proposed to abridge the freedom of speech in South Korea

Kim Jeong-Geun (김정근): Urgent breaking news from MBC, Korean National Union of Media Workers headquarter. Grand National Party (GNP), governing party of South Korea, is trying to take full control of South Korean media by forcefully and foully passing the bill proposed to abridge the freedom of speech and expression in South Korea. South Korean democracy is also in danger. And we want to let the world know of the current situation in South Korea. Here are the messages from MBC anchors and reporters, all of whom are members of Korean National Union of Media Workers.

Choi Hyeon-Jung (최현정): This is an urgent message. It's been only a year since President Lee took office. However, our nation's foundation of liberal democracy is on the verge of collapsing. The ruling GNP is trying to push a legislation to restrict the freedom of speech without agreement from the opposition. In Korea, this is called "Nal-Chi-Gi," which means rushing the bill through. This is raising a lot of public anger and Korea is on the brink of losing our freedom of speech.

Bang Hyeon-Joo (방현주): South Korean democracy is in danger. 1.3 billion People of China, please call Ko Heung-Gil of GNP and protest, "What's wrong with you? You work like an amateur!" And make another call to Kim Hyong-O, Speaker of the National Assembly and protest, "The whole world is watching! We won't stand any nonsense!"

Lee Dong-Hee (조동희): In South Korea, many words are becoming obsolete: Democracy, common sense, communication, freedom of speech. How could that happen? The ruling party is trying to reverse the clock of history. South Korean democracy has retrogressed and dictatorship has risen from the dead.

Ha Ji-Eun (하지은): The GNP swears they will restore the economy by revising the press law. Please! Tell it to the marines!! I'll tell you again. It's an absolute, nonsense, total lie. By the way, a Japanese word was heard, out of the blue, at the National Assembly of Culture, Sports, Tourism, and Broadcasting Committee.

Assemblyman (GNP): "Don't barge in. We cannot pass the bill as you're "Gensei"-ing and barging in. So just listen."

Ha Ji-Eun (하지은): What we want to hear from the GNP is not "Gensei" but "Smimasen" (Sorry).

Kim Jeong-Geun (김정근): To protect South Korean democracy, we will fight until the end. We want you to join us.

"Fight against the control of speech!"
"Fight for the freedom of speech!"

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/341430.html
[Analysis] GNP steps up attacks on National Assembly speaker
Ruling party is increasing its efforts to have controversial legislation passed, raising concerns that it has crossed a line (Feb.28,2009)

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/341439.html
Killer conceits (Feb.28,2009)

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/334072.html
Searing truth (Jan.19,2009)

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/332436.html
Don’t mess with the man (Jan.10,2009)

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/331327.html
Bigger portions, please (Jan.5,2009)