KOREA: Media workers escalate protest against reforms

National Union of Media Workers plan to strike starting Tuesday morning

The Korea Herald
Monday, July 20, 2009

Hundreds of unionized workers at the country's newspaper and television networks will go on an indefinite strike this week to protest President Lee Myung-bak's sweeping media reforms they view as pro-conglomerate, union leaders said Monday, according to Yonhap News.

The planned mass walkout is the third of its kind since President Lee took office in February last year.

Lee's Grand National Party vowed to put the media reform bills to a full-house vote with or without its rival's consent before the current parliamentary session ends on Saturday. The ruling party, controlling 169 seats in the 299-member unicameral house, suggested several revised versions of the bill, all of which were spurned by the main opposition Democratic Party.

"We will resume the walkout from 6 a.m. Tuesday," the National Union of Media Workers said in a press release. "We will fight for the sake of the independence of the media using all possible measures. The government and the ruling party should be prepared for grave consequences should they force the bill through."

Date Posted: 7/20/2009