Prior to this, they held a meeting of media persons for adopting a declaration on the situation for defending people's sovereignty and freedom of speech in front of the building of "Yonhap TV News."

A declaration on the situation signed by at least 7,800 media persons was made public at the meeting.

It accused the Lee "government" of pursuing a biased media policy to privatize the public broadcasting services and monopolize them for its stay in power.

The declaration deplored that if this is allowed, lies and sophism protecting the interests of those in power will prevail in this land.

It called for putting a definite end to the "government's" moves to introduce a policy for running the press and broadcasting institutions at the same time and privatizing the public broadcasting services. It also demanded Choe Si Jung, chairman of the Broadcasting and Communication Committee, Ri Tong Gwan, a spokesman for "Chongwadae", Ryu In Chon, minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and others step down of their own accord.

Meanwhile, the press trade union conducted a vote on the general strike from Oct. 21 to 23 and decided to call a strike in protest against the "government's" moves to put the public broadcasting services under its control.

The organization vowed to launch a general strike in case the "government" hurls police into the building of "Yonhap TV News" and it unilaterally passes the "bills" on the biased media policy through the above-said committee and the "National Assembly."