Court rejects compensation suit against MBC unionists for 2012 strike

A Seoul court on Thursday dismissed a compensation suit filed by the country’s second-largest television network, MBC, against its union for losses allegedly incurred from a 2012 strike.

About 500 journalists and producers of MBC went on strike in January 2012, demanding the resignation of a former company chief for biased coverage of politically sensitive issues and the normalization of the company’s role as a major public broadcaster.

After the 170-day-long walkout, the management launched the suit against the union and 16 union leaders, demanding 1.95 billion won ($1.82 million) in compensation for the losses incurred from the illegal strike.

The Seoul Southern District Court ruled against the plaintiff, saying that the court acknowledges the legitimacy in terms of the goal of the strike. (Yonhap News)