MBC and KBS employees went on strike yesterday, and MBC's popular variety show "Infinite Challenge" was suspended indefinitely (above). (Network map)
(Seoul) Foreign media reported that employees of South Korea’s two major state-run TV stations MBC and KBS were dissatisfied with the abuse of power by the TV station’s senior executives, blacklisting employees with different political stances, and different treatments, requiring appointment by the Park Geun-hye government MBC President Kim Chang-gum and KBS President Ko Dayong and other high-level officials stepped down and went on strike starting at 00:00 on the 4th (local time at 11 pm on the 3rd), including the program production team and news practitioners. The total number exceeded 3,800. It was also the second collective strike by the two TV stations after defending press freedom in 2012. The
strike is unavoidable that the TV station is paralyzed. MBC’s "Brother’s Ideas" and the current affairs program "100 Minutes" which was broadcast last night was the first to stop broadcasting. "Music Center", "Unreasonable Cohabitation", "I Live Alone", etc. are expected to be replaced by rebroadcasts or special programs. The
KBS TV station reduced the 1-hour program to 40 minutes from the "KBS 9 o'clock News" at 9 o'clock last night. At present, the total number of strikers in MBC has reached more than 2,000 and KBS has more than 1,800. It is expected that a KBS union will join on the 7th, and the number will further rise. At present, the two TV stations are also using statements and text messages to request strikers to return to work.
Korean drama queen Ha Ji-won recently co-starred in the MBC new drama "Medical Ship" with Kang Min Hyuk, and the KBS drama "My Golden Glorious Life" by Park Si Hoo, who was certified innocent four years ago for being involved in a sexual assault case. After the broadcast, they both achieved high ratings and won the title. Whether the two dramas have become victims under the labor trend has attracted much attention.
