"KBS in Turmoil: 'Received Notice 2 Hours Before Martial Law Broadcast?'"

KBS Union Headquarters Statement
"Rumors of News Director Receiving Advance Notice"
"Emergency Martial Law Special Report Is a News Disaster"

Suspicions have been raised within KBS that the head of the news department received a tip about the 'martial law broadcast' two hours before the announcement of martial law.

The KBS Headquarters of the National Union of Mediaworkers' Dispute Countermeasures Committee stated in a press release on the 4th, "There is a rumor that Choi Jae-hyun, the head of the news department, received a tip from the Presidential Office about two hours before the martial law announcement to prepare the 'martial law broadcast.'" They added, "If this rumor is true, it means the Presidential Office clearly interfered with KBS's programming, violating the Broadcasting Act, and Choi Jae-hyun should not only resign but also face immediate legal action."

KBS Building. Photo by Yonhap News

The KBS union also criticized, "The special report on martial law was a reporting disaster." The union pointed out that after the President's martial law declaration the previous day, KBS did not promptly activate the special report system, and while other broadcasters quickly secured and aired live footage in front of the National Assembly, KBS "wasted time with the President's address and meaningless commentary."

They further noted, "KBS aired the opposition party leaders' and lawmakers' press conferences late, and blatantly broadcast remarks from ruling party officials blaming the opposition party for the cause of martial law under the guise of maintaining balance between ruling and opposition parties."

They continued, "Despite the ruling party lawmakers being unable to vote due to instructions from People Power Party floor leader Choo Kyung-ho to gather at the party headquarters, KBS reported Choo's excuse that voting was impossible because the National Assembly entrance was closed without verification."

Referring to the reporting scene in front of the National Assembly that day, they lamented, "KBS reporters were unable to conduct proper interviews or connect MNG (mobile news gathering) equipment," explaining, "This was because the voices of citizens cursing and expressing frustration at the KBS cameras were captured on camera." They also mentioned past instances where KBS faced public protests at scenes such as the Sewol ferry disaster, criticizing, "KBS, known as the 'People's broadcaster,' has abandoned the people's hearts and succumbed to the regime."

The KBS union urged, "Viewers are continuously complaining that they are too embarrassed to watch KBS news," and called for "Park Jang-beom, the candidate for president, Jang Han-sik, head of the news headquarters, Choi Jae-hyun, head of the news department, and Kim Sung-jin, the weekly editor, to leave the company immediately." They warned, "If KBS once again fails to properly report why the public is angry with the Yoon Seok-yeol administration and ignores the truth, the public's anger will be directed at KBS and you, Choi Jae-hyun."