Chief of media union arrested for leading 'illegal' walkout

(ATTN: UPDATES with opposition legislators' move, union's press conference, union
chief's comment in paras 7-10; CORRECTS typo in para 2)
SEOUL, July 27 (Yonhap) -- Police on Monday arrested the chief of a national
union of media workers, accusing him of leading a days-long "illegal" walkout
against government-led media reforms.
Thousands of unionized workers at South Korea's newspapers and television
networks have protested against the media law revisions, under which large firms
and major newspapers will be allowed to own stakes in terrestrial and cable
television stations.
Critics view the revisions, unilaterally passed by the ruling Grand National
Party (GNP) last week as lawmakers scuffled in the National Assembly, as
favorable to conglomerates and as part of an attempt by the conservative
government to exercise greater control over major news outlets.
Opposition parties and media unionists argue the GNP vote was invalid, citing
procedural violations. They suspect some of the ruling party votes were cast by
legislators' aides, an issue currently under parliamentary investigation.
Choi Sang-jae, chief of the National Union of Media Workers -- which claims
thousands of workers, including those from the country's major terrestrial TV
stations -- was arrested at his house Monday morning and is currently being
questioned, police said.
"He has been arrested on charges of interfering with the normal affairs of the
media by leading four days of illegal strikes from July 21," Seoul's Yeongdeungpo
Police Station said.
Choi said he will go on a hunger strike from Monday, insisting the government's
"political intentions" to weaken his union's protest were behind his arrest.
Calling the arrest an "oppressive action against media," about 40 union members
held a press conference outside the police station, vowing to strengthen their
anti-government protest for "the sake of democracy."
Scores of legislators from the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) also visited
Choi at the police station, slamming authorities for their "unjust and
anti-democratic" arrest of the union head.
"It does not make any sense to handcuff Chairman Choi in front of his wife and
daughter when he officially requested the summons be delayed and there was no
possibility of him fleeing," said Choo Mi-ae, a DP lawmaker.
President Lee Myung-bak, a former CEO and strong proponent of market principles,
has been seeking since his inauguration in February last year to amend the
nation's media laws, including the broadcasting law. He says the revisions will
spur competition in the media sector, which he believes is falling behind global
trends.
The previous broadcasting law, established in the 1980s, prohibited cross
ownership of print media and television stations to prevent monopolies in the
media industry.
Lee's party, which controls a majority of 169 seats in the 299-member unicameral
house, passed the revision bills last Wednesday after it failed to narrow
differences with opposition parties despite weeks of negotiations.
Labeling the media union's strike "illegal," the government has warned of civil
and criminal charges against participating members.
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)