Chief of media union arrested for leading 'illegal' walkout

SEOUL, July 27 (Yonhap) -- Police on Monday arrested the chief of a national
union of media workers, accusing him of leading a days-long "illegal" walkout
against government-led media reforms.
Thousands of unionized workers at South Korea's newspapers and television
networks have protested against the media law revisions, under which large firms
and major newspapers will be allowed to own stakes in terresterial and cable
television stations.
Critics view the revisions, unilaterally passed by the ruling Grand National
Party (GNP) last week as lawmakers scuffled in the National Assembly, as
favorable to conglomerates and as part of an attempt by the conservative
government to exercise greater control over major news outlets.
Opposition parties and media unionists argue the GNP vote was invalid, citing
procedural violations. They suspect some of the GNP votes were cast by
legislators' aides, an issue currently under parliamentary investigation.
Choi Sang-jae, chief of the National Union of Media Workers -- which claims
thousands of workers, including those from the country's major terrestrial TV
stations -- was arrested at his house Monday morning and is currently being
questioned, police said.
"He has been arrested on charges of interfering with the normal affairs of the
media by leading four days of illegal strikes from July 21," Seoul's Yeongdeungpo
Police Station said.
Calling the arrest an "oppressive action against media," the union said it will
decide its "future course of action" after internal discussions.
President Lee Myung-bak, a former CEO and strong proponent of market principles,
has been seeking since his inauguration in February last year to amend the
nation's media laws, including the broadcasting law. He says the revisions will
spur competition in the media sector, which he believes is falling behind global
trends.
The previous broadcasting law, established in the 1980s, prohibited cross
ownership of print media and television stations to prevent monopolies in the
media industry.
Lee's party, which controls a majority of 169 seats in the 299-member unicameral
house, passed the revision bills last Wednesday after it failed to narrow
differences with opposition parties despite weeks of negotiations.
Labeling the media union's strike "illegal," the government has warned of civil
and criminal charges against participating members.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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