MBC employees block raid by prosecutors over U.S. beef documentary

SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- Unionized employees of MBC, one of South Korea's
largest broadcasters, on Wednesday blocked a raid by prosecutors investigating a
documentary that questioned the government's decision to resume U.S. beef imports
last year.
Four producers and two writers at MBC were sued by the agriculture ministry last
year for allegedly distorting facts in the program and exaggerating the threat of
mad cow disease associated with U.S. beef. The documentary, "PD Notebook,"
suggested that those who consume U.S. beef could contract the human form of the
brain wasting illness.
Tens of thousands of South Koreans took to the streets last summer after the
program aired to protest Seoul's agreement with Washington to reopen the Korean
market to U.S. beef.
Prosecutors and investigators from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office
arrived at MBC headquarters in central Seoul at around 10 a.m., but were met with
resistance by some 200 unionized employees who blockaded their entry into the
building. Prosecutors have demanded that MBC submit unedited interviews and other
tapes used in making the documentary.
They presented warrants to detain five members of PD Notebook's production staff,
including producers and writers, for questioning. One PD Notebook producer was
already questioned last week after being briefly taken into custody.
"We have no other choice but to conduct a forced investigation as the producers
have not responded to our summons and request for the original tapes," said an
official with the prosecution. He also stressed that the prosecution does not
want physical clashes with MBC employees.
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