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The following article is from the upcoming issue of Videazimut's
publication CLIPS.  The upcoming issue is devoted to training in
the use of video.  CLIPS is published three times a year in
separate English, French and Spanish editions.  Subscriptions are
$US 10 a year in northern countries and $US 5 in southern
countries.  If you would like a sample copy, please contact
Videazimut with your surface mail address.

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KOREA:  CHANGES, SMALL BUT STRONG

Cable Access Television (CATV) will be introduced in Korea as of
next spring; public access however, is still prohibited by law.
Many NGOs concerned with the rapid changes in the media landscape,
have taken on the issue of public access and are fighting in
several ways for its realisation. In December, the YMCA organised
and trained 20 women in video production. The Communication Center
of Seogang University will soon start a two week program for
teachers. The Han Gyu Rae newspaper, one of the major daily
newspapers funded by the people, will soon have a month long video
training program available for the public. Another NGO is
currently fighting for changes in media legislation .

The labor movement has a long history in popular video production
and some interesting events have taken place recently. In some
large factories in Korea, trade unions are in the process of
negotiating access to the company owned closed-circuit television.
After workers cut the cable when it was introduced in the factory,
KIA Motors, one of the big automobile companies which has 7000
unionised workers, agreed to negotiate with the union. If workers
get program time, facilities and paid production costs in order to
make their own programs, it will be a  powerful victory for public
access in Korea.  Considering that a nationwide federation of
unions will be organised next year, this issue is very important
for the alternative video movement as well as the labor movement.

Labor News Productions (LNP) is involved with all the training
programs mentioned above. Since 1990, it has trained about 150
workers. Each of its programs has its own content and scheduling.
For example, training programs for workers are usually 2 to 3 days
long.  The content includes: the labor movement and video, media
literacy, video technology, pre-production, post-production, etc.
The length of each lecture varies but there is always time to
practise. Though the program is short, workers learn the total
concept of using video. If they want to know more or have
technical problems afterwards, we are always there to help.

But in Korea, this type of work faces many obstacles. Every video
and film production must be registered and every television
program must be censored.  Even if a video or film is made just
for a small community group, it's illegal and the producer can be
arrested. So because LNP refuses to have its programs censored, it
is illegal. Also, the concept of alternative video has a very
short history here. So before the battle for public access is won
on the legislative level, we must train more people and start to
build for a network so that we will be able to fulfill program
requirements when the time comes.  Another obstacle is that there
are few trainers in this field and that most existing video
training programs are commercially based.  Industry professionals
do not care about the alternative movement and there are only a
few independents who are prepared to do training.  Lastly, there
are no funding grants for the independent or alternative sectors.

In reality, there is hope for the future. More and more people are
getting access to training and are beginning to create their own
alternative voice. Some lawyers are preparing legislative changes
for the coming year and even some blue collar workers are starting
to make their own videos. For example, this month, a trade union
at Hyundai with 20,000 unionised workers made a video on labor
issues with an independent producer. And next spring, more
training programs are scheduled and many educational videos are
planned. So with the trade unionists and grassroots groups, we
will be able to proceed and strengthen the alternative video
movement.

Myoungjoon Kim is Chief Producer at the Labor News Production in
Korea.  Write: 326-12, Sangdo-1 dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, Korea
Fax: (82 2) 826 0151