KBS members and citizens defend the public broadcaster hoping to see some change
KBS Board Meeting Blocked, What's Next?
The board meeting of Korea Broadcasting System (KBS), a public broadcasting firm, was called off on Thursday even before it was to be held on August 23. Plans to unseat KBS head Jeong Yeon-joo have led to an uproar from KBS channel members and citizens following the dismissal of the KBS director Shin Tae-seob last week.
Furthermore, channel members wondered whether the Broadcasting Communication Committee rushed too quickly in bringing down the KBS director. Director of Korea Broadcasting Producer Association, Yang Seung-dong, said, "We called it [the meeting] off as the protesters have tried to stop the board meeting by any means".
The first board meeting was canceled on Thursday, but the critical issue is what happens next. Despite the failure of the second round of YTN's (a public broadcasting firm) general meeting, the protesters succeeded in stopping the first round just as they did on Thursday. However, the difference between a general meeting and a board meeting is that the general meeting announces the date and venue while the latter does not and can be held anywhere as long as it achieves a quorum.
As regards the Lee administration's "plot" to take control of the network, the ambiguous move of the KBS Labor Union is also said to see complex disputes in the future. "As long as the labor union paves the road well, it will allow a more easier route for the citizens to fight back. But I don't understand why they are not cooperating" said ex-party official, Jeong Cheong-rae, who goes to the candle protest everyday that is held in front of the KBS building.
Jeong together with KBS members and citizens stood their ground in defending the public broadcaster hoping to see some change.
'Board Playing Along the Scenario'
Protesters said they were afraid that it would be an illegitimate board meeting. The sudden dismissal of the KBS board director following the election of a pro-national party official, Gang Seong-chul, as the manager, was not what they expected. Director Yang said, "It was ineffective even from the beginning when Shin was dismissed along with Professor Gang's engagement in the Board meeting".
Yet the core motive of the protest was the fact that filing an "obvious" proposal to remove the KBS head was inevitable. Furthermore, it was already an issue earlier, on July 21, when a high government official was quoted as saying, "If a dismissal proposal is filed in the coming days, the Blue House will agree and appoint a new head replacing Jeong's place".
However, the press is assuming that Jeong's resignation is playing along a tricky scenario pressured by the whole situation.
Whether prosecutors will summon Jeong over alleged breach of trust is yet to be confirmed. Moreover, the press foretells that if he were to be taken into legal action, the proposal would be handed to the Broadcasting Communication Board, which would file a proposal under the National Civil Service Law to confiscate his position. Finally, the scenario would end with the Lee administration pressuring Jeong to resign and replacing him with a new KBS head favorable to the government.
Director Yang implied that "pressuring Shin to resign despite the 30 days that was left till the board's meeting and replacing Gang instead, seems certain that Gang will play along the scheme to file Jeong's resignation proposal in the end". He added: "In the end, it is a piece of cake for the Communication Board to hand the case to the court".
Furthermore, Yang implied, "The whole plan of the Lee administration seems like they are rushing to close the case before the opening of Beijing Olympics and bury the criticism along the way".
KBS producer, Choi Young-soo said, "With a favor of seven out of eleven members to dismiss Jeong, the board directors will certainly come to an agreement to file the proposal when the results are out by the Inspection Board [at the Lawyers for a Democratic Society Meeting]".
"Their effort to end the case before the Olympic Games and the foreseeable fact to cool the debate during the games is just a bit too suspicious". he added.
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