Jeong recently introduced a group of new programs, three of which are especially controversial: “Modern History Through Biography,” “Media Focus” and “Citizens Project - Please Come Out.”

“Modern History Through Biography” was slammed by the opposition party even before its first episode, because its host, the actor Moon Sung-geun, is a fervent supporter of President Roh Moo-hyun.

The first three episodes of “Modern History Through Biography” featured the mother of Lee Han-yol, a student demonstrator who died after being hit in the head by a tear gas shell in June 1987; Jeon Tae-il, a labor activist who burned himself to death to protest the government’s failure to enforce labor laws; and Yun Sang-won, the Citizens Army spokesman during the Gwangju uprising who was shot to death by the military.

A professor at Kookmin University, Lee Chang-hyun, pointed out that the selections have been considerably political so far, as Lee, Jeon and Yun represent the democratic campaign against Chun Doo-hwan’s military regime in the late 1980s, labor suppression in the 1970s and the 1980 Gwangju uprising.

Because public channels should appeal to all citizens regardless of their ideological stances, such biased programming is inappropriate, Lee said. KBS needs to serve as the pivotal point that includes a wide spectrum of various ideologies, he said. Critical viewers have written KBS's Internet bulletin board that the Roh Moo-hyun government seems to want to justify its legitimacy by exploiting the names of the activists who sacrificed themselves for democratization.

"Media Focus" debuted with a confessional by KBS in which it repented of past sins and promised to reform. A KBS executive pointed out that reporters in the 1980s were forced to write pro-government stories. The episode got mixed reactions. While some appreciated KBS’ will to reform, others pointed out that the self-reproaches were limited to the past. Others said it lacked objective standards and was created from a certain political perspective.

“Citizens Project - Please Come Out,” which debuted by sending a TV van to former President Chun Doo-hwan’s residence and demanding that he appear on the live show, has been attacked for dealing with serious issues by embarrassing the concerned parties.

A professor at Hanyang University, Kang Nam-jun, said that the second episode dealt with day-to-day issues such as credit cards and sanitary napkins, and observers say the producers used the first episode to promote the program by making it a sensational event.

A professor at Sookmyung University, Park Chun-il, said that if a public broadcasting agency focuses on disclosure programs or enlightenment campaign programs, the entire nation could lose its center of gravity. The media needs to propose an agenda indirectly through stories and reports, not in a direct manner, he said.

At MBC, another public TV station, a documentary program, "PD Notes," had an episode called “Korean Newspapers: the Power above the Power” on July 8. The show limited its criticism of newspapers to Chosun Ilbo, JoongAng Ilbo and Donga Ilbo, and reiterated the anti-Chosun rhetoric from the Kim Dae-jung Administration by interviewing government officials and former journalists.

Professor Kang Hyung-chul of Sookmyung University says that the public broadcasting stations are pandering to the views of only half the voters - those woo supported Roh Moo-hyun in the presidential election - and will alienate the other half in the long run. Pointing out that the British Broadcasting Corporation begins its programming by saying that it has no political policy, Korea's public television networks do not need to editorialize. (Eo Su-ung, jan10@chosun.com )