The Issue Moves to the Korea Communications Commission... KBS Subscription Fee Increase Proposal Discussion Intensifies

KCC to Receive Adjustment Proposal and Related Documents on the 5th
Mandatory Review Within 60 Days from Receipt Date

Im Byung-geol, Vice President of KBS, is explaining the adjustment plan for the television broadcasting reception fee at a press conference held on the afternoon of the 1st at the KBS Annex Public Hall in Yeouido, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] As controversy over the KBS license fee increase continues, the ball has now moved to the Korea Communications Commission (KCC).

On the 5th, the KCC announced, "We have received the television broadcast license fee adjustment proposal and related documents submitted by KBS." The KCC is required to review and submit its opinion to the National Assembly within 60 days from the date of receipt.

Earlier, on the 30th of last month, KBS held a regular board meeting and passed the 'Television Broadcast License Fee Adjustment Proposal,' which raises the current license fee from 2,500 won to 3,800 won, an increase of 1,300 won.

If this proposal passes the KCC, it will be forwarded to the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee, the relevant committee of the National Assembly. After the committee reviews and approves it in a plenary session, the final confirmation is made through a vote in the full assembly.

Domestic public opinion regarding the KBS license fee increase is negative. On the 2nd, a petition titled "Withdraw the KBS license fee increase and switch to voluntary payment" was posted on the Blue House's public petition board, with about 3,800 people participating as of that day. In a survey conducted in February by Research View and Media Today targeting 1,000 citizens, 76% of respondents opposed the increase.

Opposition voices are also strong in the political sphere. On the 30th of last month, members of the People Power Party on the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee issued a statement demanding, "Immediately withdraw the KBS license fee increase that the public opposes." Lee Won-wook, chairman of the committee and a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, also pointed out on Facebook, "Although KBS has made efforts toward management innovation and self-help measures, it is still insufficient for the public to feel the impact."

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