[Comprehensive] KBS 'License Fee Increase' and 'Million-Won Salary Post' Controversy... Both Ruling and Opposition Parties Say "It Hurts the Hearts of Struggling Citizens Every Day"

KBS "To fulfill 'public interest' duty..." Pushes for license fee increase
Mocks citizens by posting 'million-won salary' amid criticism
Political circles criticize "reckless management," "hard times even begging"

The appearance of the KBS main building./Photo by KBS

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Public broadcaster KBS is facing public backlash amid various controversies such as 'license fee increase' and 'posts about employees earning over 100 million won annually.' Despite active apologies and explanations, it has failed to gain public sympathy and instead seems to be worsening public opinion. Political circles are also raising critical voices against KBS, saying, "It is digging into the hearts of people struggling during the COVID-19 situation."

On the 27th of last month, KBS submitted a proposal to the board to raise the license fee from 2,500 won to 3,840 won per month. This proposal will be reviewed and resolved by the KBS board and then submitted to the Korea Communications Commission (KCC). After the KCC's review and approval by the National Assembly, it will be finalized.

The current license fee has been frozen for 41 years since it was set in 1981. The revenue KBS collects from license fees was 670.5 billion won as of 2019, accounting for about 46% of its total resources. If the license fee rises to 3,840 won, income will increase by about 359.4 billion won, exceeding 1 trillion won.

Yang Seung-tae, KBS president, explained the reason for the license fee increase as "to fulfill the 'public interest' duty assigned to national institution broadcasting and to become a public broadcaster more necessary in the future."

Public opinion on the license fee increase is not favorable. Although KBS claims to be a public broadcaster, it has been embroiled in political bias controversies every time the government changes, and from May or at the latest June, it will be allowed to have mid-roll advertisements like pay TV channels such as general programming channels and cable channels.

It has also been criticized for failing to demonstrate differentiation and capability as a public broadcaster in dramas and entertainment programs. Especially with the widespread use of OTT (Over The Top) services like YouTube and Netflix, there are criticisms that the justification for raising TV license fees is insufficient.

There are also criticisms that raising the license fee at a time when the entire nation is struggling due to COVID-19 is not timely. KBS previously attempted to raise the license fee in 2003, 2007, 2011, and 2013 but faced opposition and failed each time.

A post made on the 31st of last month by an anonymous KBS employee on the workplace community 'Blind,' claiming to earn a salary in the hundreds of millions of won./Photo by Online Community Capture

Meanwhile, an anonymous KBS employee's post about 'earning over 100 million won annually' on a workplace community added fuel to the angry public sentiment. On the 31st of last month, a netizen who identified as a KBS employee posted a message titled "There are many complaints about our company."

The netizen claimed, "No matter what you say, our company guarantees retirement, and the license fee is included in the electricity bill, so it must be paid regularly," adding, "The average annual salary is 100 million won, and since there are no bonuses, half of the employees earn over 100 million won every year."

The post quickly spread across online communities and social networking services (SNS), sparking public outrage.

Netizens criticized, saying, "Why should ordinary citizens support KBS employees who earn an average of 100 million won annually?", "This is typical KBS employee attitude," and "I don't care about the high salaries; I don't watch KBS, so please stop showing it on TV and stop charging the license fee."

Political circles also voiced criticism regarding KBS's license fee increase.

Na Kyung-won, a former lawmaker and People Power Party candidate for the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election, wrote on Facebook on the 1st, "Raising the KBS license fee now? I oppose it," adding, "There is a more important task before deciding on the license fee increase: correcting KBS's wasteful management."

She continued, "If management efficiency and transparency are not guaranteed, it will be difficult for the KBS license fee increase to gain support or be justified."

Jo Eun-hee, Seocho District Mayor, also criticized on Facebook on the 2nd, saying, "KBS is not properly explaining to viewers, who are the license fee payers, what it plans to do through the license fee increase."

She added, "A KBS employee reportedly posted on a workplace community, 'If you envy the high salary, join us,'" and criticized, "KBS is digging into the hearts of people who are struggling day by day under the Moon Jae-in government's tax burden and the COVID-19 situation."

Even within the ruling party, negative opinions about the KBS license fee increase have emerged. Kim Nam-guk, a Democratic Party lawmaker, said in an interview with YTN Radio's 'Hwang Bo-seon's Starting New Morning' on the 2nd, "License fee increases are possible only when there is national understanding and consensus, which is impossible in this situation."

Kim said, "Even if we bow down and ask the public to raise the license fee, it would be difficult, and one employee caused controversy," adding, "We will look into various reforms in the National Assembly so that KBS can give up its privileges as a public broadcaster and become a broadcaster for the people."

Meanwhile, KBS expressed apologies regarding the controversy over the post about high salaries.

On the 1st, KBS issued a statement saying, "We deeply regret and apologize for the discomfort caused by the post containing content that cannot be considered common sense among our members, regardless of the reason," and "We will take this controversy as an opportunity for each employee to self-reflect and adjust their mindset."

They emphasized, "We promise once again to do our best to streamline the organization and improve management efficiency through wage system improvements and job redesign in the future."

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