MBC chief to remain in office

SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- The largest shareholder of South Korean broadcaster
MBC rejected a resignation offer by the firm's chief Thursday, deciding to
maintain him in office until the end of his term, which falls on February 2011.
Ohm Ki-young, president of South Korea's second-largest public broadcaster MBC,
had offered to step down along with seven of his executives on Wednesday.
The state-run Foundation for Broadcast Culture, the largest shareholder in the
broadcaster with a 70-percent stake, decided, however, to accept resignations by
four MBC executives including its vice-president Kim Se-young, the foundation
directors said after their meeting Thursday.
The resignation offer by Ohm, a former news anchorman, was made after the
foundation rated his reform plans "inefficient" on Nov. 30. Insiders say his
reforms, which include tougher restrictions against the labor union, was
unpopular with some board members.
Ohm, who started his career as a journalist in 1974, gained popularity while
anchoring MBC's primetime news program and was elected the firm's president last
year. He has two remaining years in office.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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