The Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) on the 20th found that 216 people working as freelancers at broadcasters including KBS, SBS, Channel A, JTBC, TV CHOSUN, and MBN—such as producers (PDs), floor directors (FDs), and writers—are not independent business operators but "workers." The ministry guided that those who have worked for two years or longer should be converted to open-ended contracts.
This is the result of a labor inspection that the ministry conducted from July to December last year on six broadcasters. Following a special labor inspection on MBC from February to May last year prompted by the death of weathercaster Oh Yo-anna, the ministry carried out a follow-up review of the remaining major broadcasters.
For the job categories recognized this time as workers, the ministry guided that those who have worked for two years or longer at the time of signing labor contracts should be converted to open-ended contracts. The ministry will conduct a confirmation inspection at the end of this year to see whether unreasonable staffing practices persist and, if identified again, will refer the cases for prosecution.
Minister Kim Young-hoon of the Ministry of Employment and Labor said, "Going forward, to improve conditions for nonregular workers in the broadcasting industry, we will consult with the Korea Media and Communications Commission on matters such as license renewal requirements for broadcasters," adding, "We will root out the misuse and abuse of freelancers and the unreasonable organizational culture that have been used as a matter of course in the broadcasting industry."