Main opposition seeks parliamentary probe on Lee's media policy

SEOUL, Oct. 24 (Yonhap) -- The liberal main opposition party said Friday it will seek a parliamentary investigation into President Lee Myung-bak's "hawkish" media policy, alleging that his aides may be pulling strings at some of the country's major broadcasters.

Opposition parties and media workers' groups here have been accusing the Lee
administration of trying to tame broadcasting firms by filling top positions with
those favorable to the conservative government and ordering discriminatory
measures against opponents of his sweeping media reforms.
The new presidents of public broadcaster KBS and cable news channel YTN have been
facing strong protests from their workers who accuse them of "playing puppet" to
the government.
In the latest series of claims, the main opposition Democratic Party said several
of Lee's key aides -- including his spokesman, the head of the Korea
Communications Commission and vice-chief of the state intelligence agency -- held
two clandestine discussions just before KBS nominated its new leader in August.
The party claims the KBS board of directors made its decision according to the
results of the meeting.
The presidential office has denied the allegations, insisting the meetings were
merely held to address pending issues at KBS.
"The parliamentary audit has revealed that two meetings were held in August,
apparently to influence the nomination of the new KBS president," said Rep. Jun
Byung-hun, who led a group of eight opposition legislators in a press briefing
Friday. "The attendance of an intelligence official shows how tightly the Lee
government is attempting to control the media."
"This calls for an independent probe by the parliament," he added. "We are ready
to get to the bottom of all these suspicions."
The law requires a quorum of more than half the 299 National Assembly members to
launch a parliamentary probe. However, the ruling Grand National Party,
controlling 172 seats, is not likely to agree with its rival's move.
Employees at YTN started a relay hunger strike last month to protest the
appointment of President Koo Bon-hong and the management's punitive measures
against unionized workers. Koo was recommended to YTN's board by an aid close to
President Lee.
President Lee dismissed the former KBS president early August over his allegedly
poor management and abuse of authority. Former chief Jung Yun-joo, a liberal
ex-journalist appointed twice by former President Roh Moo-hyun to the KBS post,
is currently under prosecutorial investigation.
The ousting of Jung, an outspoken critic of the Lee government, removed one of
the biggest hurdles to the eight-month-old government's plan to privatize
state-run television channels, which is opposed by broadcasters but welcomed by
market-dominating newspaper companies.
The current media law prohibits cross-ownership of print media and television
stations.
The plan has triggered strong concerns here as only three right-leaning
vernacular newspapers, already controlling nearly 70 percent of print media
circulation, have enough resources to enter into the television industry.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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