Media Alert
March 3, 2009,
Protest at anti-democratic policies of Sth
Korean President Lee Myung-bak
Wednesday March 4, 2009, 5.30pm-7pm
Hilton Hotel, 488 George St, Sydney
Speakers include: Ian West MLC, John Kaye MLC
Organised by Korean Resource Centre, Sydney
This protest has been provoked by the anti-democratic initiatives of the
South Korean President:
Amending the Irregular Worker Law to extend the amount of time,
from two years to four, that companies can employ irregular
workers before having to offer them regular employment
contracts
Amending the Broadcasting Law to allow giant conglomerates
and ruling party to control television
The Irregular Worker Law amendment will spread into a new social conflict.
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions spokesperson Woo Moon-sook said, “We will
respond with all our energy throughout February, standing up to the government and
the Grand National Party as they declare war on the people with legislation that goes
against the people’s wishes.”
The bill to revise the Broadcasting Law, submitted by Rep. Na Kyung-won of the
ruling Grand National Party to the National Assembly, is aimed at allowing
conglomerates/chaebol, newspaper companies and news agencies to buy into
broadcast news companies, terrestrial broadcasting companies or comprehensive
broadcasting companies. Under the proposed revision, conglomerates/chaebol,
newspaper companies and news agencies with up to 10 trillion won (A$10.15 billion)
in assets each will be able to buy up to a 20 percent stake in a terrestrial broadcasting
company and up to a 49 percent stake in a broadcast news or comprehensive
broadcasting company. The ownership limit for individual shareholders would be
raised to 49 percent from the current 30 percent and foreign companies would be
allowed to hold up to a 20 percent stake in a broadcasting company.
The GNP’s move is aimed at changing broadcast journalism to give the GNP a
monopoly over public opinion and help it gain a favorable portrayal of the party in the
media, giving chaebol and the three major conservative newspapers, the Chosun Ilbo,
the JoongAng Ilbo and the DongA Ilbo a window of opportunity through which to
enter the broadcasting industry.
The GNP has accused terrestrial broadcasters of making it impossible for the party to
win the presidential elections of 1997 and 2002, which were won by liberal candidates
and often cause conservative politicians to talk about the necessity of making up for a
“lost decade.”
Contact: Contact Korean Resource Centre President Joon Shik Shin - 0409 887 388
NEWS 
