S. Korean main TV stations to go on strike, says media

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South Korea's two national television stations Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) and Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) are going on a massive strike at the beginning of September, requiring the senior executives appointed during Park Geun-hye's administration to step down.

According to The Korean Nation, a daily newspaper of the country, the strike planned by the labor unions of the two TV stations is about to start on September 4 and 9 respectively. The production of all television programs will be suspended during the strike.

A total of 93.2 percent of MBC's 1,682 staff members voted in favor of the strike, demanding their CEO Kim Jang-gyeom to resign. About 400 reporters, producers and anchors have vowed their participation.

Journalists from the KBS gather in the new KBS headquarters building in Seoul on Aug. 28 to announce the beginning of a strike. /Photo by The Korean Nation

Labor unions of the country's largest public broadcast KBS said about 750 people will participate in the strikes. They are demanding removal of company's CEO and President Ko Dae-yong .

The labor unions were cited by The Korean Nation saying that the former administration of Park Geun-hye was impeached. They faced trial for 18 charges including bribery, interfered in Kim and Ko's appointments. They were also accused sabotaging the fairness, credibility, and suppressing the dissents.

"This general strike will be the last fight to end nine years of fabrication, forgery, oppression and yielding," said the union of KBS in a statement.

Staff of KBS and MBC protest, calling for resign of executives. /Photo by journalists' labor union

The top executives, however, took a tough stance against the upcoming strike. They denied allegations and resistance to step down.

KBS released a notice on Monday, saying that "a strike which has no relation to working conditions is illegal."

MBC also urged its employees not to participate in a "politically motivated" strike in a statement. It said that the strike is aiming to bring to broadcasting under the control of the incumbent President Moon Jae-in, said The Korean Nation.

Journalists from the KBS gather in the new KBS headquarters building in Seoul on Aug. 28 to announce the beginning of a strike. /Photo by ‍The Korean Nation‍

"MBC will defend the independence of broadcasting against political forces and labor unions," said the broadcaster.

KBS's website said all the live broadcast will be suspended starting Monday. According to the KBS producers, the "inventories" will be enough to keep the shows running for one week. But if the strike continues most shows will have to rebroadcast the previous episodes.

The channel airs several popular shows during the weekend. It includes "Infinite Challenge", "I Live Alone", "Masked Singer" and "The Wizard of Ozi." These shows are among those that could be affected by the strike.

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