Yoomi Jeong Presente! Remembering Jeong, Yoomi

* Image source: No Base Storis of Korea: Jeong Yoomi during the FTA struggle, Washington DC, June, 2006
* Video source: People's Video Network(Sue Harris)

Today, July 25, 2009 is the 1st anniversary of the death of the Korean American activist, Jeong, Yoomi who got the diagnosis of the stomach cancer in 2006 during the struggle against the US-SK Free Trade Agreement and who passed away on July 25, 2008 as her beloved American husband Johnny Kline had devotedly kept her. She was a deputy secretary-general of the Korea Truth Commission and highly contributed to spread the truth of the Korean war to many international friends.

We, the Koreans and Korean Americans deeply remember all her humanity and devotion for the peaceful reunification of the Korea and international solidarity for peace.
Her death was a great loss for all of us but we, also know she remained us the task of continuing her struggle.

She has passed away. But she would be present inside us for a long time as many noble people have been.

• Related English articles

http://www.iacenter.org/korea/jeong073008/
IAC Message on Jeong Yoomi
From the message of the International Action Center
July 30, 2008

http://www.workers.org/2008/world/yoomi_jeong_presente/index.html
Yoomi Jeong presente!
by Deirdre Griswold, Larry Holmes, Teresa Gutierrez, Monica Moorehead, Sara Flounders, Fred Goldstein, National Secretariat members, Workers World Party, USA
Published Jul 30, 2008

http://search.workersworld.net/local-cgi/search.cgi?q=Yoomi+jeong&cmd=Search
Workers World articles of Yoomi Jeong

http://www.iacenter.org/korea/korea-pentagon-shootcivilians/
Korea Truth Commission Statement on Pentragon Policy of Shooting Civilians During War
Korea Truth Commission - Joint Office and U.S. Chapter
June 13, 2006


* Related Korean article
http://www.spark946.org/bugsboard/index_young.php?BBS=nuri_1&action=viewForm&uid=211&page=46
Fighting, Jeong Yoomi Unni!
by No base Stories of Korea, November 11, 2006


* Related blog
http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/04/remembering-heo-se-wook.html
Remembering Heo, Se-Wook, Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Text Fwd: The United Nations Command Informed the North Korea of the Ulchi Freedom Guardian

* Image source: Solidarity for Reunification of Korea(SPARK)
Protest against the UFG exercise in front of the TANGO( Theater, Air, Navy, Ground Operation), War Command Center, Seongnam, South of Seoul, Aug. 18, 2008

Below is the unofficial translation of the Tongil News(meaning 'Unification News') and needs proofreading.

The United Nations Command Informed the North Korea of the Ulchi Freedom Guardian, a Joint Military Exercise between the United States-South Korea,
next Month [August] 17 to 27:
Emphasizing It is a “Defense Exercise Not A Provocative Action”
July 24, 2009, Friday, Tongil News, Jung, Myeong-jin, mjjung@tongilnews.com

The 2009 Ulchi Freedom Guardian(UFG), a joint military training is practiced during the next month, 17 to 27.

The Combined Forces Command(Commander Walter Sharp) revealing as above on [July] 24, said that “The United Nations Command informed the North Korea of the 09 Ulchi Freedom Guardian that it is for the defense-related military readiness exercise, not the provocative actions in any aspects.”

Next, he repeatedly emphasized that “ Like any exercise, the 09 UFG is a common defensive exercise to make progress of the abilities of the US-SK alliance to protect the South Korea from the foreign invasion.”

The characteristic of the exercise this time is that the new US-SK joint operation plan is applied instead the existing ‘Operational Plan 5027’. The military has driven this with the aim of completing the US-SK joint operational plan by July, which has been renewed following the plan of the transfer of the wartime operational control right in 2012.

Since last year, the UFG has been processed with the lead by Korean Joint Forces that is the Korean combat command headquarter and with the support by the United States Forces Korea Command(KORCOM). So to speak, it is exercising the ‘Korean Forces leading-United States Forces supporting system’.

It is to intend to apply the OP 5027 to the Key Resolve/ Foal Eagle in every March, exercising the current ‘combined defense system’ and to apply the new operational plan to every August, exercising the ‘joint defense system’, preparing the transfer of the operational control right.

The Unchi Freedom Guardian, renamed from the existing Ulchi Focus Lenz(UFL), this time is the biggest exercise with 10,000 United States Forces of Korea, 56,000 Korean Forces and 400,000 people from 4,000 institutes, including the public officers from the central government and the regional autonomy groups.

The repulsion of the North Korea against the US-SK UFG exercise is expected. In last August, the North Korea has revealed its criticizing position against the exercise through the spokesperson of the Panmunjeom representative committee of the DPRK military, of the Committee for the Peaceful Unification of the Father Land, DPRK, of the Department of the Foreign Affairs, DPRK, last August.

At the time, the spokesperson of the Panmunjeom representative committee has said the UFG exercise was “the new North Korea-invasion exercise, aimed to strengthen the ground operational ability, having the South Korean puppet military as cannon fodders and to increase the effects of the mid-long range precision attack and rapid maneuver attack by the U.S.A. imperialism invasion force against out strategic points.”

Otherwise, the Combined Forces Command (CFC) added that “ Because there is no field maneuver exercise in the 09 UFG, there will no reporting chance related to the exercise.” The UFG exercise is commonly composed of the CPX exercise being utilized with computer simulation.

ⓒ 통일뉴스(http://www.tongilnews.com)


* Photos of Protest against the UFG, in 2007, 2008(Source: SPARK)

Aug. 20, 2007
Aug. 18, 2008 Aug. 19, 2008 Aug. 20, 2008 Aug. 21, 2008 Aug. 22, 2008


* Related blog

http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/07/text-fwd-us-forces-have-plans-for.html
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Text Fwd: U.S. Forces 'Have Plans' for N.Korea After Kim Jong-il


* Related English articles

StopNATO
US, South Korea To Hold Annual War Simulation Exercises, July 24, 2009

Yonhap News
S. Korea, U.S. notify N. Korea of joint war game plan, July 24, 2009

KBS World
S.Korea, US to Hold Joint Defense Exercise in August, 2009-07-24


* Related Korean article

http://minbyun.org/?document_srl=6160
(original site: SPARK (Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea)
작전통제권 전면 환수 및 유엔사 해체 촉구 각계인사 선언
Statement from the Various Fields Regarding the Whole Returning Back of the Operational Control Right and the Dissolution of the United Nations Command
June 29, 2007

Text Fwd: U.S. Forces 'Have Plans' for N.Korea After Kim Jong-il

* Image source/ description: same as below
'Adm. Timothy Keating /Bloomberg'

Chosun Ilbo(Most conservative right wing newspaper in the South Korea)
U.S. Forces 'Have Plans' for N.Korea After Kim Jong-il
englishnews@chosun.com / Jul. 24, 2009 09:33 KST

The U.S. "has plans" in the event of trouble in North Korea following the death of ailing leader Kim Jong-il, the commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, Adm. Timothy Keating, claimed Wednesday. "I can tell you that we have plans with the United States Forces Korea and others in place if the president tells us to execute those plans, in the event of some uncertain succession in the North," Keating told reporters at the U.S. Defense Department.

But he added, "I don't think it is axiomatic that the departure of Kim Jong-il means a national security crisis. We would hope it wouldn't. But we are going to be prepared if it does mean that."

The admiral declined to go into detail. "We are prepared to execute a wide range of options in concert with allies in South Korea and in discussions through [the Department of] State, which would have the lead, with countries in the region and internationally if necessary."

He added Kim Jong-il "has clearly suffered some change of health. Is it the result of a stroke? Is that change the result of a stroke? Is there some larger issue at stake? I don't know... He's a different man today than he was a year ago, physically, in appearance."

This was the first time the commander of U.S. forces on Korean Peninsula in case of a sudden change in North Korea, made public remarks about a contingency plan for Kim's death.

On July 15, Michael Nacht, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Security Affairs, said the department is "developing a scenario for the future of North Korea."

Michael O'Hanlon of the Brookings Institution, a think tank in Washington, in a report in June said in the event of North Korean regime collapse, South Korean forces can implement tasks to maintain peace and reconstruct the North, but that the U.S. forces need to advance into North Korea if its nuclear materials, a serious threat to U.S. national security, pose a problem. In that case, the U.S. must send a clear message to China including promising to withdraw from the North Korean territory as soon as possible, he added.
englishnews@chosun.com / Jul. 24, 2009 09:33 KST


* Related blog

http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/07/text-fwd-united-nations-command.html
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Text Fwd: The United Nations Command Informed the North Korea of the Ulchi Freedom Guardian

http://space4peace.blogspot.com/2009/07/tough-talk-about-korea.html
Bruce Gagon blog: Saturday, July 25, 2009
TOUGH TALK ABOUT KOREA


* Related Document:

Ministry of the National Defense, South Korea
http://www.mnd.mil.kr/mndEng/WhatsNew/RecentNews/index.jsp
Public Announcement of『Defense Reform Basic Plan (2009~2020)
Date 2009-07-07 16:54

Text Fwd: Fire test for S. Korea's first space rocket to be conducted next week

Yonhap News
Tech/Science 2009/07/24 19:27 KST Fire test for S. Korea's first space rocket to be conducted next week By Lee Joon-seung

SEOUL, July 24 (Yonhap) -- The critical fire test for South Korea's first space rocket will be conducted next week after delays caused by technical problems, the government said Friday.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said Russia's Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center sent an official letter notifying local authorities that the test date for the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1) has been set for July 30. If the test can be conducted as planned, the rocket could be launched in August if weather conditions are favorable.

"A letter was sent to the Korea Aerospace Research Institute that it will conduct the hot fire test," an official said. Khrunichev is in charge of building the main booster rocket.

South Korea, with no experience in launching rockets, is working with Russia to acquire rocket technology and expertise that could allow it to send locally made space vehicles into orbit in the future.

Originally, Khrunichev planned to conduct the test on Monday, but called for a delay to upgrade the test control and evaluation programs needed for the experiment. This move affected the launch date, which had been set for next Thursday.

The rocket fire test is important because engineers will fill the rocket with fuel and oxidation compounds and ignite it to simulate an actual launch.

There are currently two KSLV-1 rockets. The one planned for launch was delivered to South Korea last month, while the other is used by Russian technicians to conduct various tests related to turbo pumps, the jet motor and fuel pipes. Russia said it has successfully conducted a so-called cold flow test on the first stage of the KSLV-1.

The ministry stressed that if all tests are conducted and there are no problems, South Korea's first space rocket can theoretically be launched 13-14 days after the "hot fire test" is conducted.

The rocket, developed at a cost of 502.5 billion won (US$403.7 million), stands 33m tall, has a diameter of just under 3m and weighs 140t. The first stage main booster rocket, made in Russia, has a thrust of 170t, while the smaller, second-stage indigenous rocket can generate 8t of thrust. The rocket is designed to deliver the 100kg satellite into orbit.

The government built the Naro Space Center, located 485km south of Seoul, to launch the KSLV-1 and future rockets.

yonngong@yna.co.kr

Video fwd: Media Bites - US Air Force Ad

Informed at Bruce Gagnon blog on July 23, 2009

Text Fwd: N. Korea indicates willingness to engage in bilateral talks with the U.S. at ARF

* Image source/ description: same as below

"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton walks past North Korea’s chief delegate Pak Kun-gwang before a group photo session at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum in Phuket on July 23, 2009."

Hankyoreh
N. Korea indicates willingness to engage in bilateral talks with the U.S. at ARF:
However, N. Korea delegation denounces U.S.’s offer of a “comprehensive package” as “nonsense” and ARF urges N. Korea to return to six-party talks
Posted on : Jul.24,2009 12:29 KST

The North Korean delegation to the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Phuket, Thailand said the U.S.’s offer of a “comprehensive package” Thursday was “just a replay of the Bush administration’s policy of “complete, verifiable, irreversible dismantlement” (CVID) and dismissed it as “nonsense.”

Ri Hung-sik, director-general of the North Korean foreign ministry’s international organization bureau relayed these sentiments at a press conference at the Sheraton Hotel in Phuket. Ri stressed, however, that North Korea is not opposed to dialogue, which has led some observers to interpret his comments as hinting that under the right conditions, it would be willing to negotiate with the U.S. This is virtually the first time that North Korea has given such an indication that it would enter negotiations since its long-range rocket launch and second nuclear test. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton also indicated an intention to talk with North Korea and revealed slightly more details about the comprehensive package at a press conference Thursday.

Ri said the U.S. is offering a package in exchange for North Korea’s agreement to abandon its nuclear program, but the program exists as a response to the U.S.’s hostile policy towards North Korea. He stressed that North Korea could not talk with the U.S. while the latter carried a knife. He said North Korea would not trade in its sovereignty and security, or its life, while the U.S. deploys countless advanced weapons in South Korea. Ri emphasized that North Korea needed to defend itself as a small country. Asked if North Korea would return to the six-party talks, he said North Korea had already declared it has no intention of doing so. Some analysts are interpreting this as a demand for bilateral talks with the U.S.

Meanwhile, the foreign ministers at the forum, which draws together 27 countries including the 10 nations of ASEAN, 10 dialogue partners like South Korea and the U.S., and several other countries like North Korea and Mongolia, adopted a chairman’s statement. The chairman’s statement reportedly condemns North Korea’s rocket launch and second nuclear test, and calls for the country to return immediately to the six-party talks.

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

© 2006 The Hankyoreh Media Company

* Related blog

http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/07/hillary-clinton-sees-herself-mother-of.html
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Hillary Clinton sees herself mother of the North Korea?


* Related article

Korea Report
http://koreareport2.blogspot.com/2009/07/so-close-yet-so-far-apart.html
July 23, 2009
So Close, Yet So Far Apart ...

Text Fwd: [Analysis] Broadcasting Law revision might force MBC to privatize

* Image source/ description: same as below

"Citizens participate in a demonstration to protest the passage of the ruling Grand National Party’s (GNP) Broadcasting Law revision bill and hold banners that read, “Annul the passage” “Disband the GNP” at Yeouido located in Seoul, July 23."

Hankyoreh
[Analysis] Broadcasting Law revision might force MBC to privatize :
As KCC appears set to select new channel operators, industry analysts predict shrinking revenues for existing channel operators and local newspapers Posted on : Jul.24,2009 12:32 KST

The Grand National Party’s (GNP) blitz-like passage of media legislation is expected to cause a major upheaval in the media market. The Korea Information Society Development Institute predicts that a new market of 1.56 trillion Won may be created as a result of the legislation that just passed. Meanwhile, many analysts are also predicting market distortions resulting from deeper competition for media companies’ survival as the battle over a small advertising market heats up.

The Korea Communications Commission appears set to select two new general television channel operators and a couple of other news channel operators by the end of this year. The broadcasting industry is estimating the amount of initial capital needed at around 200 to 300 billion Won. It is also estimated that an annual investment of more 100 billion Won will be needed to survive in the market. A KCC official says, “How newspaper companies or conglomerates establish consortiums will serve as an important selection criterion.”

Some analysts are predicting if large conglomerates invest in broadcasting, either as major stockholders or equity participants, the possibility increases that they will be moving advertising in the direction of channels they are investing in or aiming to manage. “Even now, large conglomerates account for 25 percent of the broadcast advertising market, and if the new general programming channel takes this, it will throw the whole broadcast advertising market into chaos,” predicted Chae Su-hyeon, a policy committee member with the People’s Coalition for Media Reform.

This prediction is bolstered by the fact that advertising is the primary source of revenue for South Korea’s media market. The terrestrial broadcasting networks Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and SBS depend almost entirely on advertising for revenue, while pay TV services, such as cable TV and satellite broadcasting, depend on advertising for 80 percent of its revenue.

“If advertising revenue streams shift with the entry of new general programming and reporting channel operators, either the gross domestic product needs to increase or regulations need to be relaxed to encourage growth in the advertising market,” said Sung Ki-hyun, secretary general of the Korean Cable TV Association. However, Sung said, neither will be easy in the current situation. There is a strong possibility that a land grab will ultimately be taking place in the advertising market.

The government is also saying that a rise in the receiving fee for KBS would allow advertising that currently goes to KBS to go to other channels. The two KBS channels (KBS Channel 1 and KBS Channel 2) currently take in around 600 billion Won a year from advertising. However, there is a limit to this as well. “Given the current situation in broadcast advertising, we can accommodate around one more general programming network at best,” said Institute for Public Media Director Jo Jun-sang.

Han Ik-hee, a researcher with　Hyundai Securities, warns, “An increase in the number of general programming providers would be a disaster for existing terrestrial broadcasting and cable providers.”

If advertising becomes concentrated in the new general programming and reporting channels, and KBS maintains itself as a public broadcasting network through a raise in its receiving fees, analysts are saying the standing of MBC will inevitably narrow considerably. Advertising revenues for MBC and the other two terrestrial broadcasters have fallen by nearly 100 billion Won a year since 2002. They suggest that if the advertising market is further diminished with the addition of general program channel operators, MBC will be under heavy pressure to privatize. According to an Institute for Public Media simulation, the entry of two new general programming networks and a new reporting network into the market would reduce existing ad revenues for terrestrial broadcasters by anywhere from 16.2 percent to 36.8 percent.

Other analysts are suggesting that the Chosun Ilbo, JoongAng Ilbo and Dong-A Ilbo may enter the broadcasting market and take away advertising revenue from metropolitan and local newspapers in addition to existing channel operators by providing discounts linking newspapers and broadcasting. According to an analysis of 2008 press management results conducted by the Korea Press Foundation, advertising accounts for 74.5 percent of newspaper revenues. Inevitably, the newspapers are going to be dealing a harsh blow to others in the newspaper and broadcast markets.

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

© 2006 The Hankyoreh Media Company


*Related blog

http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/07/text-fwd-media-workers-stage-general.html
Wednesday, July 22, 2009 Text Fwd: Media workers stage general strike to prevent Broadcasting Law revision


*Related articles

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/367609.html
Broadcasting Law revision bill vote failure? Government Administration Committee cites precedent for a revote, while lawmakers and lawyers file for an injunction against the Broadcasting Bill revision Posted on : Jul.24,2009 12:57 KST


http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/367403.html
Citizens ask for President Lee and GNP to resign over passage of media bills: Laborers call for a general strike while citizens say passage of Broadcasting Law shows GNP is more concerned about maintaining party power than public welfare Posted on : Jul.23,2009 11:42 KST

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/367405.html
GNP unilaterally passes three media related bills: DP and opposition parties prepare for a legal battle over the passage of the Broadcasting Law revision Posted on : Jul.23,2009 11:45 KST


http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/367406.html
DP fights to annul the Broadcasting Law amendment If DP can gather a broad public consensus, it may challenge the Broadcasting Law amendment in the ordinary session of the National Assembly in September Posted on : Jul.23,2009 11:53 KST

Text Fwd: New Rule Affects Samsung, Woori

Korea Times
07-23-2009 18:32
New Rule Affects Samsung, Woori
By Kim Tae-gyu, Staff Reporter

Samsung Group, the country's largest conglomerate, and the state-owned Woori Financial Group have taken center stage following a revision of the financial holding company system.

Starting this December, non-bank financial holding firms will be allowed to have manufacturers as subsidiaries, allowing Samsung to employ a holding company system.

Thus far, its main affiliate Samsung Life Insurance has worked as its de facto holding company together with the Everland amusement park. The country's top insurer has a 7.21-percent stake in Samsung Electronics.

Should Samsung Life increase its stake in Samsung Electronics to 20 percent, the holding company system will be complete.

There is another option for Samsung Group - it can turn the non-listed Samsung Everland into its holding company. But in this case, Samsung Life would need to dispose of all its stakes in Samsung Electronics.

In this climate, Samsung Group faces challenges because both measures are difficult to carry out.

"Both steps are implausible for us. For now, we are not thinking of turning to the holding company system," a Samsung Group spokesman said.

Woori Financial Group, the holding company of the country's major lender Woori Bank, also has something to gain with the revised law.

Under the bill, companies will be allowed to increase their stake in banks to 9 percent starting Oct. 10 — beyond the current restriction of 4 percent.

In addition, various ownership limits placed on private equity funds will be eased so that firms will be able to jack up their indirect stake in banks even beyond 9 percent.

This is expected to boost demand for Woori when it goes on sale because industrial companies will invest money in the private equity funds, which in turn can hike stakes in banks.

Will Revised Law Help Korea Inc.?

The Financial Services Commission (FSC) has said that the revised law will prompt companies to channel fresh money into banks, which will lead to a virtuous circle.

"Manufacturers will be able to participate in the capital increase of banks afterward. This is expected to eventually prod banks to lend more back to firms," an FSC official said.

"Then, companies will have more room for investment or to hire more people, thus helping the economy recover. This is a virtuous circle," he said.

Business associations such as the Federation of Korean Industries and the Korea Employers Federation welcomed the revision of the law.

But concerns are rising over a possible conflict of interest between banks and industrial capital.

"Ever since the global financial crisis hit the world, every country has been trying to reduce the risks associated with large-sized financial outfits. But we are reversing the trend," professor Kim Sang-jo at Hansung University said.

"What the revised law intends to do is to enlarge financial firms. But size does not guarantee competitiveness. It might generate more risks by triggering conflict of interest," he said.

His logic: Influenced by increased stakes of industrial capital, banks may be forced to extend loans to unhealthy companies that are related to industrial capital. Banks may be abused as 'private safes' for chaebol, a Seoul analyst said.

voc200@koreatimes.co.kr

Text Fwd: S. Korea to Develop Radar With Israel

Korea Times
[Exclusive] S. Korea to Develop Radar With Israel
By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
07-23-2009 17:08

South Korea will develop an indigenous mechanically scanned array (MESA) radar for aircraft with the help of Israel, officials at the Defense Acquisition Program (DAPA) said Thursday.

LIG Nex1, a leading defense firm in South Korea, will sign a deal with Israel's Elta Systems on the first phase of development of radars to equip TA-50 light-armed aircraft and FA-50 attack fighters, they said.

Both firms will hold a signing ceremony Sept. 3 in Seoul.

The TA-50 and FA-50 are modified versions of the T-50 Golden Eagle supersonic trainer jet jointly built by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Lockheed Martin of the United States.

The South Korean Air Force is buying 82 T-50 variants — 50 T-50s, 22 TA-50s and 10 T-50Bs modified for aerobatics.

KAI signed a deal last December to develop and produce 60 FA-50s by 2012 to replace A-37 attack jets and F-4/5 fighters as backup to the Air Force's KF-16s and F-15Ks.

Under the envisaged agreement, LIG Nex1 will push for developing an indigenous MESA radar based on the Israeli firm's EL/M-2032 radar technologies, agency officials said.

The EL/M-2032 radar is credited with a look-up tracking range of 65 to 100 kilometers.

``The indigenous radar is expected to be built by the end of 2010 and subsequently enter service in 2011,'' a DAPA official said, asking to remain anonymous.

In the mid- to long-term, the domestically-built radar is likely to be installed on upgraded KF-16 fighters and further developed to an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar to equip ``KF-X'' fighters with technology transfers from Elta, sources said.

Initiated in 2001, the KF-X program aims to develop more than 120 indigenous fighters by 2020 in partnership with foreign aircraft manufacturers.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr

Text Fwd: Media workers stage general strike to prevent Broadcasting Law revision

* Image source/ description: same as below:
'MBC union members are on strike to protest against the ruling Grand National Party’s plan to pass a bill amending the Broadcasting Law at its headquarters located in Seoul’s Yeouido, July 21.'

The Hankyoreh Media Company
Media workers stage general strike to prevent Broadcasting Law revision:
KCTU announces the beginning of their strike in solidarity with workers in broadcasting companies who have stopped their work to join in the NUMW strike
Posted on : Jul.22,2009 12:05 KST

The　National Union of Media Workers (NUMW) began their general strike at 6 a.m. July 21 to prevent the railroading of the bill to revise the Broadcasting Law. This is their third general strike since last December. The Korea Confederation of Trade Union (KCTU) also announced its general strike will start on July 22 in solidarity against the Broadcasting Law revision and the Irregular Workers Law revision, and support for normalizing Ssangyong Motors labor and management relations.

NUMW announced, “Around 13 thousand media workers will participate in this struggle to frustrate maneuvering by the ruling Grand National Party to suffocate democracy and freedom of press.”

Broadcasting companies’ union members have withdrawn from production locations. Approximately 1 thousand union members of MBC held a ceremony at 10 a.m. to begin their strike.

All except the 200 YTN union members necessary for remaining on air also held a ceremony to begin their strike.

After wrapping up their ceremonies for their union branch, union members went to gather in front of the National Assembly to participate in the NUMW’s ceremony for launching the general strike at 3 p.m. of that same day. The unions of SBS, CBS and EBS have also joined in the general strike.

The KCTU held a press conference in the same location to announce their general strike in solidarity. KCTU said, “We will stage a general strike beginning on July 22 in order to block Lee Myung-bak’s vicious law revisions from passing, including the bills to revise both the Broadcasting Law and the Irregular Worker Law.” KCTU is also demanding the normalization of relations between labor and Ssangyong Motors management.

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

* Related articles
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/367167.html
[Analysis] Media bills allow conservative papers’ entry into evening news:
GNP officials abandon pretense of job creation to say its push for media legislation is about party interest in broadcasting content determining administration’s destiny
Posted on : Jul.22,2009 11:33 KST

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/367179.html
Ssangyong Motors confrontation continues:
As police move in to occupy the auto plant’s headquarters, industry analysts point to receivers for prolonging the struggle with the union over company’s recovery plan
Posted on : Jul.22,2009 12:08 KST