Journalists at South Korea's public broadcaster are boycotting news production to call for the resignation of their president.

Korean Broadcasting System President Gil Hwan-young is under fire for alleged intervention in news reporting.

A former bureau chief of KBS news recently told reporters that Gil interfered with news production in favor of the government's views. He said this violates the independence of news coverage, and demanded that Gil step down.

Gil removed the bureau chief from his post earlier this month after strong protests by families of victims in last month's Sewol ferry sinking over remarks he made about the accident.

As a result of the boycott in support of the former bureau chief, most of the broadcaster's news programs have been shortened or canceled. The normally hour-long 9 PM news ran just 20 minutes.

The KBS board is to meet early next week to discuss whether to seek Gil's resignation.

May 23, 2014 - Updated 06:15 UTC