The statement accused the KBS management of taking such an unjust disciplinary measure as dismissing eight persons including reporters affiliated to the "KBS Action Group for Defending Public Broadcasting Services" and former chairman of the trade union on Jan. 15.

The statement charged that this action taken by the Lee Myung Bak regime betrayed the undisguised intention to put the public broadcasting service under its control and it is part of the campaign to quell the resistance of the workers against the retrogressive revision of the "law on broadcasting" at an "extraordinary session of the National Assembly" slated to take place in February.

Terming the struggle of the unionists for defending the public broadcasting services just, the statement demanded the KBS management side retract the unjust disciplinary measure taken against them and apologize to the people for the suppression.

If the above-said demand is not met, the KCTU will simultaneously launch a campaign for judging the Lee regime and protesting against the KBS management, it warned.

On the same day the KBS Media Persons' Association held a general meeting at which it decided to boycott the news coverage and the production of programs in demand of the retraction of the above-said measure.