Hong Ik-pyo "Stop the KBS Occupation Resembling a Military Coup"

Democratic Party Floor Leader's Remarks at the April 14 Floor Strategy Meeting
Hong Ik-pyo: "Parachute CEOs Are Only Loyal to the Regime"

Hong Ik-pyo, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized that media control began to proceed rapidly as soon as Park Min, the KBS president whose appointment was opposed by the opposition party, took office.

On the morning of the 14th at a floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly, Hong said, "Watching KBS news last night, I thought a military coup had occurred," adding, "I have never heard or seen such a sudden change in broadcast hosts and programming reorganization."

Hong Ik-pyo, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 14th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

He continued, "It seems that the KBS takeover operation has been proceeding rapidly as soon as President Park Min took office," and questioned, "From the first day of his appointment, violations of the programming regulations and collective agreements have been occurring one after another. Is it acceptable for a parachute president to be solely loyal to the regime and to ruthlessly trample on KBS like this?"

Earlier, the day before Park Min took office, KBS removed anchor Lee So-jung, who had been hosting 'News 9' for four years, and Joo Jin-woo, the host of the first radio program 'Joo Jin-woo Live.' Currently, the KBS branch of the Korean Federation of Mediaworkers' Unions under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions is protesting, claiming that the management violated the Broadcasting Act, collective agreements, and programming regulations.

Referring to this situation, Floor Leader Hong said, "From the first day of President Park Min's appointment, five general managers in charge of news, current affairs, culture, and radio have been replaced and the positions remain vacant," emphasizing, "Broadcasting belongs to the people, not to the power." He further criticized, "Although it seems that they are succeeding in seizing power for now, they will inevitably face legal responsibility as well as historical judgment," and urged, "If you do not want to take responsibility, step down as soon as possible."

Choi Hye-young, the floor spokesperson, met with reporters right after the floor strategy meeting and said, "It is wrong for candidate Park Min to show such behavior even before officially starting work as a parachute appointment," adding, "We will discuss how to handle this matter going forward." When asked whether the sudden replacement of KBS hosts was illegal, she responded, "Of course. Replacing well-performing programs or hosts without reason is an abuse of power."