Board of Audit and Inspection Begins Preliminary Audit of KBS... Media Union Says "Should Not Be Seen as an Attempt to Seize Public Broadcasting"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] On the 19th, the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) began a preliminary investigation to decide whether to audit KBS.

According to KBS, the KBS Labor Union, and the National Union of Mediaworkers KBS Headquarters, the BAI visited KBS on the day to start the preliminary investigation and plans to conduct on-site investigations on the 22nd and 23rd as well.

This preliminary investigation follows a public audit request filed in June by the KBS Labor Union, a minority union classified as conservative, against KBS President Kim Eui-chul and the KBS Board of Directors.

The KBS Labor Union requested the audit, alleging violations of internal regulations by the KBS Board of Directors, abuse of authority, and suspicions of unfair hiring by President Kim Eui-chul.

The majority union, the National Union of Mediaworkers KBS Headquarters, issued a statement on the day saying, "There was also an attempt to oust the KBS president in 2008 when the administration changed," and added, "The audit must not proceed in the same context as past attempts to seize control of the public broadcaster."

They continued, "We can no longer overlook the recurring controversies shaking the public broadcaster during every regime change," urging, "The governance structure must be improved to ensure stability even when the administration changes."