EBS executives released a statement and threatened to resign in opposition to the legality concerns surrounding newly appointed EBS President Shin Dong-ho.

Fifty-two EBS executives issued a resolution on the 25th, rejecting a two-person system centered around President Shin Dong-ho. They pointed out that the legitimacy of President Shin Dong-ho's leadership is lacking and expressed their opposition, pledging to resign from their positions.

Recently, a controversy over legality has arisen surrounding the appointment process of the new president at EBS. This is due to a ruling on the two-person system, which includes Lee Jin-sook, the Chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission, rather than a five-person system for unanimous agreement. Consequently, the Supreme Court cited a suspension of the enforcement of a lawsuit for confirmation of the invalid appointment filed by directors of the Korean Broadcasting System against the Korea Communications Commission.

Controversial new president Shin Dong-ho joined MBC as an announcer in 1992 and has served as head of the announcer department and Director General. After leaving, he applied for proportional representation nomination from the Future Korea Party in the 2020 general election but lost with the 32nd spot. Later, he served as a Spokesperson for the election campaign committee and a member of the ruling party's executive board, and in 2023, he was also a director at EBS.

Below is the full text of the 'Resolution of Current Executives of the Korea Educational Broadcasting System (EBS).'

EBS has walked alongside the public as a public educational broadcasting service that conveys knowledge, values, and hopes for the future for several decades. We have fulfilled our mission as a lifelong educational partner from early childhood to adulthood based on the freedom of the press and public interest guaranteed by the Constitution.

However, at this moment, we stand before a grave crisis. The Korea Communications Commission is forcibly pushing ahead with the appointment of the new EBS president under a two-person system that has been questioned for its legality, which seriously undermines the independence and procedural legitimacy of public broadcasting.

This wrongful attempt by the Korea Communications Commission is not merely an issue confined to EBS. It will cause social turmoil, and the impact will be directly transferred to students, viewers who trust and love EBS, and future generations who bear the future of the Republic of Korea. EBS belongs to all citizens, not to any particular individual or entity, and especially serves as a public asset for future generations.

Therefore, we, the current executives of EBS, clearly state our position as members of public broadcasting and as responsible individuals before the public.

First, decisions made under the two-person system cannot have legal effect, and their outcomes cannot be recognized as legitimate.
The Constitution and laws specify that administrative agencies must strictly follow established structures and processes, and the Supreme Court has also clearly stated that there are grounds to dispute the legality of the Korea Communications Commission's decision under a two-person system. Nonetheless, the Commission has pushed ahead with the appointment of the president in disregard of this. We cannot accept individuals appointed through these processes as the president of public broadcasting and emphasize once again that no one has the authority to exist above the law and the will of the people.

Second, one cannot lead EBS without understanding its essence.
EBS is not just a broadcasting company. EBS is the only public educational broadcasting service in the Republic of Korea with the public responsibility to realize the social value of education. Therefore, the leader of EBS must be free from political considerations and external interests and must have a sufficient understanding of the values EBS has pursued as well as a philosophy of education and a sense of responsibility towards public broadcasting. Appointments that do not meet these criteria will only bring chaos to the organization and ultimately damage viewers and students who love EBS.

Third, this crisis has clearly revealed the structural limitations of EBS governance.
Currently, the president of EBS is appointed by the chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission through a competitive recruitment and review process, but the current composition of the board and the method of selecting the president are excessively exposed to external political influences, fundamentally threatening the independence and neutrality of public broadcasting. We feel that unless this structure is reformed, second and third crises will inevitably occur, and we strongly urge that transparent and democratic governance improvements must be realized due to this incident.

Fourth, we are not alone.
At this moment, students, parents, and longtime viewers who have watched over EBS also share deep concerns that the values of education and the essence of public broadcasting should not be compromised. These voices are not just a simple empathy but a clear demand for the direction and responsibilities EBS must uphold. We take this message seriously and will move forward steadfastly in the direction the public expects in terms of responsibility and trust.
However, if our demands are ultimately ignored and the Korea Communications Commission forcibly appoints a president against legalities, we will never recognize anyone appointed as the president of EBS. If our demands are not accepted, and the Commission recklessly proceeds with the appointment, we will firmly declare here that we will engage in stronger responses and struggles.
EBS is not owned by any specific party or the Korea Communications Commission; it belongs to all citizens and is a valuable asset for future generations. To preserve its essence as an educational public broadcasting service, we will fulfill our mission based on conscience and professionalism, remaining independent from any external influence. Maintaining our position unwaveringly is what we must do, and it represents our determination for the future.

Therefore, we, the current executives of EBS, demand the Korea Communications Commission to immediately suspend the appointment process for the president, which is being pursued amid allegations of illegality. They must reorganize the institutional basis to ensure that individuals who can respect and realize EBS's identity and public value are appointed through legitimate procedures.

The government and the National Assembly must swiftly promote fundamental reforms to the governance structure of EBS to ensure the political independence and sustainability of public broadcasting.

EBS is a broadcast for the people and a hope for education for future generations. To uphold this mission, we reaffirm our commitment here today. We will protect EBS to the end, without wavering.

March 25, 2025

Current Executives of the Korea Educational Broadcasting System (EBS)

Head of Broadcasting Production Division, Head of Digital School Education Division, Head of Convergence Technology Division, Head of Business Center, Head of Policy Planning Center, Head of Programming Center, Head of Management Support Center, Head of Video Arts Center, Head of Audience Review Office, Head of License Fee Normalization Promotion Team, Head of Information Security Division, Head of External Cooperation Division, Head of Education Vision Project Division, Head of Publishing Division, Head of Broadcasting Production Planning Division, Head of Liberal Arts Education Division, Head of Early Childhood Animation Division, Head of Radio Division, Head of Digital Education Planning Division, Head of Curriculum Content Division, Head of Digital Education Service Division, Head of Digital Talent Education Division, Head of Technology Planning Division, Head of Network Technology Division, Head of Video Lighting Division, Head of Sound Technology Division, Head of Editing Division, Head of ICT Infrastructure Division, Head of Content Business Planning Division, Head of Advertising Division, Head of Cooperative Business Division, Head of Digital Business Division, Head of Policy Planning Division, Head of Planning Budget Division, Head of Organizational Legal Division, Head of Public Relations Division, Head of Programming Opportunities Division, Head of Cooperative Production Division, Head of Programming Operations Division, Head of Global Content Division, Head of Knowledge Content Division, Head of Human Resources Division, Head of Financial Accounting Division, Head of Operational Management Division, Head of Spatial Design Division, Head of Graphy Design Division, Head of Video Production Division, Head of Studio Video Division, Head of Penguin TV Brand Studio Project Team, Head of Teaching Material Planning Division, Head of Teaching Material Development Division, Head of News Division, Head of External Cooperation Division

[Photo] Provided by MBC.

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