KBS License Fee Increase Proposal from 2,500 Won to 3,840 Won Submitted to the Board

Image source=Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The KBS board of directors proposed an adjustment plan on the 27th regular board meeting to raise the KBS license fee from 2,500 KRW to 3,840 KRW per month.

The proposed license fee increase will go through several procedures including public hearings, opinion polls, and presentation of measures to strengthen KBS's public responsibilities, before being deliberated and decided by the board.

The KBS management explained that the submission of the license fee adjustment plan is aimed at enhancing the value of public interest in an era where disasters such as the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) have become commonplace.

The current license fee has been frozen for 41 years since it was set in 1981 with the advent of color TV broadcasting. The revenue KBS collects from license fees was 670.5 billion KRW in 2019, accounting for about 46% of its total resources. If the license fee rises to 3,840 KRW, income will increase by approximately 359.4 billion KRW, pushing license fee revenue beyond 1 trillion KRW.

KBS appealed that "with the current income, there are limits to fulfilling the public responsibilities stipulated in the Broadcasting Act." They presented 57 proposed projects including strengthening disaster broadcasting, securing journalistic fairness, expanding public content production such as reviving historical epic dramas, enhancing regional broadcasting services, expanding services for people with disabilities and minorities, strengthening viewer sovereignty and accountability, and supporting educational broadcasting and small/regional media. They also promised to reduce personnel expenses and tighten the budget.

Yang Seung-dong, KBS president, issued a statement after the license fee adjustment plan was submitted to the board, saying, "In the COVID-19 era, we will become a broadcaster that prioritizes the lives and safety of the people."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.