The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins journalists and media workers at YTN in South Korea in welcoming yesterday’s renewal of the broadcaster’s business licence.
The Journalists’ Association of Korea (JAK), an IFJ affiliate, reports that the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) confirmed the licence renewal yesterday.
The licence includes a condition that YTN management submit a plan within one month which outlines how the broadcaster will guarantee fair and objective reporting.
Delays in approving the licence, which was due for renewal in December, had raised concerns among staff at YTN, and also the IFJ, about efforts to link the network’s success and future to the right of staff to organise protests in defence of press freedom and editorial independence.
The leader of the YTN media workers’ union welcomed the decision, noting that the added condition was not a shackle but considered by journalists to be desirable.
“The IFJ looks forward to seeing the YTN plan to guarantee the broadcaster’s editorial independence and urges management to consult staff in devising the strategy,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.
YTN staff have been protesting for seven months to seek guarantees of editorial independence at the broadcaster, following last year’s appointment of Gu Bon-Hong as YTN president. Gu previously worked as an aide to South Korea’s President, Myung-Bak Lee, which raised concerns among YTN staff about potential attempts by the Government to exercise undue political influence on the broadcaster.
The protests have resulted in management dismissing some staff and initiating disciplinary action, complaints to police and court injunctions. Six staff who were dismissed as a result of the dispute remain without their jobs and the YTN union continues to fight for their reinstatement.
The IFJ is hopeful that YTN management will agree to fresh talks with staff to seek a positive resolution of the dispute, including the reinstatement of all dismissed staff and an end to all retaliatory actions.
This week, the IFJ wrote to President Lee, and YTN’s management to urge they enter into new talks with YTN staff to end the dispute, and proposing an agenda for such talks. The IFJ’s action was taken after leaders of 23 national and international union bodies from throughout Asia-Pacific endorsed a resolution at a regional IFJ meeting in Hong Kong on February 12-13 to stand in solidarity with YTN staff, their union representatives and JAK.
“The IFJ will continue to encourage the Government of South Korea and YTN management to take steps to resolve the dispute through new talks, including actions to reinstate sacked workers and end disciplinary actions against staff who, in their protests, are acting in the interests of press freedom and the Korean public,” Park said.
For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919
The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 120 countries worldwide