Media workers launch strike against industry reforms

SEOUL, July 21 (Yonhap) -- Unionized workers with the country's newspapers and
television networks launched a 100-hour strike on Tuesday to protest
government-proposed media reforms they fear will put the industry in the hands of
a select few.
President Lee Myung-bak and his governing Grand National Party (GNP) is pushing
for the passage of the media reform bill during the current parliamentary session
that ends on Saturday.
The bill would lift a ban prohibiting newspaper companies from owning television
channels, a move broadcasters and progressive civic groups strongly oppose. They
argue such cross-ownership would lead to the creation of monopolies in the media
industry.
Members of the National Union of Media Workers (NUMW), including broadcasters
MBC, SBS, YTN, EBS and CBS, started a general strike at 6 a.m., joined by
regional newspapers. Several television and radio program hosts were hurriedly
switched to non-union members, according to the union.
State-run broadcaster KBS, which does not belong to the union, has said it will
join the protest on Wednesday.
MBC's union, one of the staunchest critics of the reform bill, said some 1,500 of
its 2,000-member union have joined in the strike. Private-run broadcaster SBS
said about 300 of its 1,100 member union plan to participate.
NUMW stressed that the strike is meant to block a vote on the reform bill, not to
disrupt daily operations at the media companies.
"We will fight for the independence of the media using all possible measures,"
the media union said Monday in a press release. "The government and the ruling
party should be prepared for grave consequences should they force the bill
through."
President Lee has vowed to amend the media law since his inauguration last year,
claiming the move will spur competition between media outlets and bolster sectors
he says have fallen behind global standards.
brk@yna.co.kr
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