Prosecutors fail to confiscate documents from broadcaster

By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, April 22 (Yonhap) -- Blocked by some 100 unionized workers, prosecutors on
Wednesday failed for the second time to seize unedited video footage from a
public broadcaster of a controversial U.S. beef report that investigators blame
for months-long riots last year.
A report by MBC's popular investigative program "PD Notebook" played a pivotal
role in touching off the street protests last year against importing American
beef by linking it to potential health risks of mad cow disease. The heated
demonstrations shook the Lee Myung-bak government in its early days and forced
the administration to renegotiate the deal with Washington. President Lee
apologized twice publicly over the controversy.
The prosecution accuses the program's producers of editing the original content
to intentionally exaggerate the risk of mad cow disease and wants to view the
original tapes.
Dozens of prosecution officials arrived at MBC headquarters and were confronted
by employees who accused them of launching a politically-motivated probe and
blocked their entry.
Prosecutors failed in an earlier attempt to confiscate the material on April 8.
Police briefly held a director of "PD Notebook" last week, spurring criticism
from civic groups who claim the move was excessive and inhumane. The director was
taken into custody just three days before her wedding.
Critics charge the clash between MBC and the prosecution is part of the
government's overarching strategy to tame media outlets. The president's media
reform proposal, which allows newspapers to own stakes in broadcasting companies,
is also criticized as favoring a handful of right-leaning dailies who already
control nearly 70 percent of circulation and have the needed financial resources
to buy the stakes.
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)