hankyoreh

the current president of the Korea Digital Media Industry Association (KoDiMA) and final nominee for the president of KBS.

Kim In-kyu, the former campaign aide for President Lee Myung-bak during his campaign for presidency, has been selected as the candidate for KBS president. Severe conflicts within KBS are expected to occur as a result, just as conflict has persisted at YTN ever since the Lee administration appointed Gu Bon-hong, another former campaign aide for Lee, as president of that cable news company.

Kim In-kyu could become the second campaign aide of a president that has ever been appointed as the president of KBS since the 1987 democratic reform in South Korea. The first was Seo Dong-gu, who was appointed during the Roh Moo-hyun administration. Seo, however, resigned just nine days after being appointed due to severe opposition from KBS members, including unionists.

Kim, who is currently the president of the Korea Digital Media Association (KoDiMA), served as the adviser on broadcasting policy matters for the Lee Myung-bak camp during the presidential election. The KBS board of directors selected him on Thursday as a finalist for the position of president after interviewing five candidates.

A number of observers anticipated that Lee Byung-soon, the current president of KBS, would win, however, the majority of directors appointed by the Grand National Party cast their votes for Kim. On Thursday afternoon, rumors of the Cheong Wa Dae’s (the presidential office in South Korea or Blue House) support for Kim had spread rapidly among KBS members. Kim won 6-1 against Lee Byung-soon. Before the vote, directors recommended by the Democratic Party had given up their vote.

Many experts worry that KBS will experience severe conflict as occurred. The KBS union issued a statement after Kim was elected stating, “We at the KBS union will not allow Kim In-kyu to enter KBS.” The unionists added, “We will carry out a general strike if necessary.”

The KBS union intends to create an ad-hoc committee to plan a general strike on Nov. 23. An official from the KBS union said, “The Lee administration is executing its plan for controlling KBS by appointing persons like Kim as the president, and we intend to prevent him from entering the KBS building if he tries to begin his term on Nov. 24.” The KBS Board of Directors is expected to ask President Lee Myung-bak to officially appoint Kim as KBS president.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]