MBC Reporters Demand News Director Should Resign

Munhwa Broadcasting Company (MBC) remains cacophonous following disciplinary measure taken against the producer of Shin Kang-gyun’s News Service, a TV news magazine, for misquoting Grand National Party spokeswoman Jun Yeo-ok.

In a statement released on the night of April 12, 30 MBC reporters said, “ The measure raises doubts that management has capitulated to political pressure.” They demand that Ku Bon-hong, the news director, should resign.

“We offer an apology to Jun and the viewers for the recording error,” the statement reads, “However, we are concerned that [MBC] management, which has always responded passively to political pressure, has taken the measure in an attempt to put an end to the problematic programs which the conservatives hate.”

The “problematic programs” refer to Shin’s news show, Sisa Magazine 1580, and other news programs produced by reporters.

Lee Woo-ho, assistant news managers, and four editors demanded a transfer in protest to the measure. MBC reporters had a meeting on April 12 afternoon to discuss their course of action.

Sun-Woo Kim sublime@donga.com