Hong Jun-pyo "KBS License Fee Must Be Abolished... Time to End Regime-Defending Broadcasting"

Hong Jun-pyo "Old-fashioned bad practices like seizing broadcasts first when the regime changes must be abolished"
Yang Seung-dong KBS President "Will properly implement management transparency, expanded viewer participation, fair news, and disaster broadcasting included in the license fee adjustment plan"

Hong Joon-pyo, member of the People Power Party./Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Hong Jun-pyo, a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, has proposed broadcasting reform as a presidential campaign pledge by advocating for the 'abolition of KBS license fees' and 'broadcast privatization.'

On the 22nd, Hong stated on his social media (SNS), "KBS license fees must be abolished," adding, "Except for EBS, all should be privatized, and MBC should also break away from being a labor-run (Noyeong) broadcaster and truly become a commercial broadcaster."

A post uploaded by Assemblyman Hong Joon-pyo on his Facebook on the 22nd. / Photo by Assemblyman Hong's Facebook capture

He continued, "To achieve this, the KBS license fee, which is currently collected integrated with the electricity bill, must be collected separately, and once privatization is complete, the license fee should be abolished," he asserted.

Furthermore, Hong said, "In an era of transparency and advanced nations, so-called regime-supporting broadcasts should no longer exist," emphasizing, "The outdated practice of seizing control of broadcasts whenever the regime changes must now be abolished."

Yang Seung-dong, President of KBS. Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, KBS’s board of directors approved a proposal last month on the 30th to raise the license fee from the current 2,500 won to 3,800 won, an increase of 1,300 won, and on the previous day (the 21st), the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) began reviewing the KBS license fee increase proposal.

The KCC plans to review and approve the opinion report prepared through an advisory panel by October and submit it to the National Assembly. Subsequently, the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee (STIBC) will review it, followed by a plenary session vote, where the final decision on the license fee increase will be made.

Earlier, on the 1st, KBS President Yang Seung-dong stated at a press conference, "In the past, three proposals to adjust TV license fees were all rejected, but the difference this time is that public opinion was reflected," adding, "We will properly implement management transparency, expanded viewer participation, fair news, and disaster broadcasting that protects the lives and safety of the people, all included in the license fee adjustment proposal."

Along with this, KBS announced organizational reform plans including △organizational redesign to strengthen digital capabilities △reduction of 1,440 senior and high-salary personnel △merger and consolidation of KBS affiliates, as well as plans to increase additional revenue from content and sell KBS-owned real estate such as transmission relay stations.

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