(LEAD) KBS unionists snub their newly appointed chief

(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead; RESTRUCTURES paras 2-4)
By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- Unionized workers at leading South Korean broadcaster
KBS blockaded the office of their new chief Tuesday, calling him a political
"parachute" appointee and trying to bar him from entering.

Kim In-kyu, a media adviser to President Lee Myung-bak during his 2007 campaign,
narrowly entered his office Tuesday around noon, escorted by bodyguards who
fought off union members. Kim was scheduled to officially begin his duties
Tuesday.
President Lee appointed Kim last week, after he was nominated on Nov. 19 by the
KBS board of directors. His nomination met with opposition from employees who
suspect the administration is attempting to tame the broadcaster.
South Korea's broadcasting law stipulates the president's right to appoint the
chief of a state-run television firm.
"The Lee Myung-bak administration is attempting to castrate the independence of
public broadcasting by appointing a presidential adviser to the top position,"
the KBS union said in an earlier press release.
The union said it will go on an indefinite strike from Dec. 3 after holding an
all-members' vote Nov. 26-30 on the issue.
Kim's appointment comes amid lingering confrontation between Lee and the public
TV station over his market-oriented media reforms and an alleged attempt to
increase control of media by filling its top positions with those favorable to
the conservative government.
Employees at KBS have launched several strikes over the past year, protesting
against the appointment of Lee Byung-soon who took office after Jung Yun-joo, a
well-known dissenter to the incumbent administration's media policy, was
dismissed by the government.
Jung's dismissal came last summer when President Lee saw his young presidency
rattled by critical reports from domestic broadcasting firms on his policies
including the decision to resume imports of U.S. beef.
While the government held Jung responsible for up to US$150 million in losses
during his five years in office, critics berated the measure as a scheme to
replace a supporter of the former government.
Critics see the issue as closely related to President Lee's media reforms under
which large firms and major newspapers will be allowed to own television
networks.
The previous law prohibited the cross-ownership of print media and television
stations to prevent monopoly in the media industry.
Supporters of new KBS head Kim say the nomination was rightfully made as the
broadcaster is in need of an experienced man to tackle various pending issues,
including an increase in the TV subscription fee and successfully transitioning
to a digital broadcasting system by 2013.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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