Korean Federation of Mediaworkers KBS Headquarters "Joo Jin-woo's Removal is Unfair... President Park Min Reported to Prosecutors"

The progressive-leaning KBS branch of the Korean Federation of Mediaworkers' Union announced on the 20th that it will file a complaint against KBS President Park Min for violating the Broadcasting Act. The reason cited is the unfair removal of radio program host Joo Jin-woo from 'Joo Jin-woo Live'.

The KBS branch of the Korean Federation of Mediaworkers' Union (Mediaworkers' Union) held a press conference on the 20th at the union conference room in the Yeouido headquarters in Seoul, stating, "President Park has flagrantly violated Article 4 of the Broadcasting Act, which guarantees freedom and independence in broadcasting programming." The complaint is scheduled to be submitted to the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office on the afternoon of the 21st.

On the morning of the 20th, at the KBS Nuri Building in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Kang Sung-won, head of the KBS branch of the National Union of Mediaworkers (Media Union), is speaking at a press conference held by the KBS branch of the Media Union to accuse Park Min, KBS president, of violating the Broadcasting Act, programming regulations, and collective agreements.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Kang Sung-won, head of the KBS branch of the Mediaworkers' Union, claimed that Mr. Joo was unfairly notified of his removal and that this process was carried out under President Park's directive, saying, "Since President Park's inauguration, the norms and systems requiring consultation and discussion with the production team have been destroyed, and the safeguards for fair broadcasting have been miserably broken."

The KBS branch of the Mediaworkers' Union asserted that after approval from the Presidential Office on the 12th, a personnel change was announced at midnight the same day, and that the appointed Radio Center Director, who had not yet started his term, instructed the PD in charge of 'Joo Jin-woo Live' to remove Mr. Joo on the 12th.

The KBS branch of the Mediaworkers' Union explained, "On the morning of the 13th at 9 a.m., the Radio Center Director called Mr. Joo to notify him of his removal, mentioning it was 'President Park Min's will.' The PD in charge opposed the removal notice, stating it was procedurally improper and that the appointed Radio Center Director had no authority, but this was not accepted."

Whether punishment will actually be imposed remains uncertain. The only case of punishment for violating the Broadcasting Act was in 2014, when then-Blue House Public Relations Chief Lee Jung-hyun (currently Vice Chairman of the Local Autonomy Committee) called the KBS News Director and demanded the re-production of news coverage related to the Sewol ferry disaster, resulting in a confirmed fine.

The KBS branch of the Mediaworkers' Union will begin recruiting 300 petitioners to file a national audit request with the Board of Audit and Inspection against President Park. They plan to request an audit to determine whether procedures or internal regulations were violated during the process of replacing the anchor and deleting the programming of 'The Live'.