Cable TV Committee Enforced Lay-Offs by Political Tendencies in 1998

In addition to Korea Racing Association, Cable TV Committee that deliberates the programs of cable TVs was also revealed that it enforced lay-offs by the political tendencies in the process of restructuring.

A document that the Donga acquired is an evaluation paper about the employees to be dismissed that had prepared by 8 executives pointed by then chairperson Han Jeong-Il (current executive of KDJPF) and the union leader and presented to chairperson Han.

According to the document, the 9 evaluators checked such items as `task capability,` `tendency to reformation,` `fidelity,` and there was a space for miscellany to describe political tendencies.

Evaluator A picked up 36 people out of 121 employees to lay-off and emphasized political tendencies or connections such as `Nasabon` (Kim Hyun-Chul`s private organization) or `special employee from the Minjeong Party. Director B also made a list of 38 people focusing on the connections, political tendencies, and relationship with labor unions.

Mr. C, who was classified as a person to be dismissed, was described as a member of Nasabon. Mr. D. was recorded as a special employee from the Democratic Justice Party (Minjeong Party). Vice chief of Public Information Bureau E was described as employed by the recommendation of a GNP lawmaker and Mr. F was classified as ¡°anti-reformation and a leader against the union leadership (dropped from union).¡°

The Cable TV Committee enforced to lay-off 33 white colors out of 121 employees and 16 technicians on November 27, 1998: by hometowns, 10 from Seoul, 8 from Chungcheong, 7 from Yongnam, 4 from Kangwon, 3 from Kyonggi, and 1 from Honam.

24 people filed lawsuits for the charge of illegal lay-off and won the case in partial by the decision of the Supreme Court, judging “the selection of the dismissed employees was not fair and objective.” Even though they won the case, they did not reinstated since the Cable TV Committee was dismissed by the implementation of the Unified Communication Law in February 2000.

Min-Hyuk Park mhpark@donga.com