A member of the TV Chosun viewer committee said, “(The government side regarding reports related to the construction union) The story of the other side should be reported, not just this side. When I pointed out that such a thing is regrettable,” the head of TV Chosun’s reporting operation department replied, “The union’s position will also be well reflected.”
According to the minutes of the viewer meeting held on January 26, which TV Chosun posted on its website on the 2nd, Lee Ji-hyeon, a viewer committee member (Director of Media Public Relations Headquarters of the Korean Federation of Trade Unions), said, “To tell you what to expect from TV Chosun’s report, for example, the construction union There were reports regarding seizure and search, but it feels too much like dictating what the government is saying. The government investigated, and they said that it was illegal because they even slowed down in response to the demand for money and goods. And the damage to the construction company reached 160 billion won due to monthly expenses. We report these one-sided claims as they are and it just ends.”
Commissioner Lee Ji-hyeon continued, “We also expelled the construction union from the Federation of Korean Trade Unions last year. I admit that there are many problems.”
Still, Commissioner Lee Ji-hyun said, “The problem at the construction site must be corrected, but in fact, there are structural causes. Since the management is overdoing it to shorten the construction period, if they give money to the tower crane drivers in the name of monthly fee from before, these people do not leave work quickly and work more, so the construction period is extended, and this is actually how the construction company works. If you look at it, it was a practice between workers,” he pointed out.
Regarding the report on labor union accounting, Commissioner Lee Ji-hyeon said, “The Federation of Korean Trade Unions receives a state subsidy of regarding 7 billion won a year.” The Ministry of Strategy and Finance has an accounting system called e-Nara Help (a computerized system for the entire process of state subsidies), and it manages by attaching receipts to it. They are not reporting these things, and they are denounced as if the labor union is a completely corrupt group.”
Commissioner Lee said, “I know the government intends that, but should the media just report it as it is as it is? This was very sad,” he said.
In response, Seo Il-ho, head of the press operation department, said, “<뉴스9>If you feel like you are dictating a press release in regards to ‘Care Class’ or ‘Labor Union’ reports, this is a problem we need to fix. It is necessary to reflect the position of the union well and to listen to the pros and cons of the care classroom and the actual voice of the field.”
According to the meeting minutes, there was also a point regarding the drama ‘Red Balloon’ (20 episodes), which ended last month with a high viewership rating of 11.6%. Members of the viewers voiced their concerns regarding the part that glorifies the adultery of male and female protagonists.
Park Ye-rin, a viewer committee member (Line Friends HR), said, “It was uncomfortable to watch because the role of Jeon-cheol’s affair story in the play was too large and seemed to be glorified. Crying and blowing as if they were in the love of the century. It was uncomfortable to watch because the scenes of motherly love for a middle-aged man with a family were expressed as if they were so affectionate and beautiful love. In each episode, there were scenes that were too old-fashioned and far from reality, and there were several lines and scenes that barely crossed the line and were intrusive.”
Commissioner Lee Ji-hyun also said, “As expected, a lot of concerns came out at the last meeting. There are too many elements to glorify the affair, and if it goes this far, I’m worried regarding how to sort it out later.”
Regarding this, Jeong Hoe-seok, TV Chosun’s head producer, said, “Honestly, when we first planned this, when we asked if it would be difficult to go with elements that glorify adultery, the writer was very confident. When we recruit an outstanding writer named Moon Young-nam, we think it is best for us to support him as much as possible rather than handling him. Nevertheless, the writer also knows that there are some women who are a little displeased because of the glorification of infidelity,” he replied.
On the other hand, the TV Chosun Viewers Committee is chaired by Hyung-cheol Yoon, Professor of Media, Public Relations and Visual Arts at Yonsei University (academic journalism), Vice Chairman Jae-hong Kwon (Citizen of Media), Ji-heon Jang, Professor of Department of Media, Seoul Institute of the Arts (science and technology), In-hye Lee, Professor of Department of Theater and Film at Kyungsung University (culture), and Jung Jung Kwon Human Rights Center Director (Human Rights), Yang In-seon, HS Ad Target Experience Team Leader (Economics), Lee Ji-hyeon, Korea Federation of Trade Unions Head of Media Public Relations (Labor), Ahn Seo-yeon, Law Firm Gangnam Lawyer (Female), Kim Jeong-hwan Pukyong National University Information Convergence University Human ICT There are a total of 10 people, including professor of convergence major (science and technology), Park Ye-rin, Line Friends HR (disabled person).
