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| Unionized employees of MBC-TV Wednesday block prosecutors' search of their headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, over the broadcaster's report on U.S. beef imports. / Yonhap |
Unionized employees of MBC, one of South Korea's largest broadcasters, Wednesday blocked a raid by prosecutors investigating a documentary that questioned the government's decision to resume U.S. beef imports last year, Yonhap News Agency reported.
Four producers and two writers at MBC were sued by the agriculture ministry last year for allegedly distorting facts in the program and exaggerating the threat of mad cow disease associated with U.S. beef. The documentary, "PD Notebook," suggested that those who consume U.S. beef could contract the human form of the brain wasting illness.
Tens of thousands of South Koreans took to the streets last summer after the program aired to protest Seoul's agreement with Washington to reopen the Korean market to U.S. beef.
Prosecutors and investigators from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office arrived at MBC headquarters in central Seoul at around 10 a.m., but were met with resistance by some 200 unionized employees who blockaded their entry into the building. Prosecutors have demanded that MBC submit unedited interviews and other tapes used in making the documentary.
They presented warrants to detain five members of PD Notebook's production staff, including producers and writers, for questioning. One PD Notebook producer was already questioned last week after being briefly taken into custody.
"We have no other choice but to conduct a forced investigation as the producers have not responded to our summons and request for the original tapes," an official with the prosecution was quoted as saying. He also stressed that the prosecution does not want physical clashes with MBC employees.
[출처 : 코리아타임스]
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