[News Terms] Controversy over the 'Broadcasting 3 Laws': 'Yoon's Rejection → Discard → Opposition's Unilateral Passage'

The Democratic Party of Korea on the 18th passed the so-called "Broadcasting 3 Acts" at the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Communications Committee meeting held without the ruling party's participation. The term collectively refers to the amendments to the Broadcasting Act, the Foundation for Broadcast Culture Act, and the Korea Educational Broadcasting System (EBS) Act. The core of the amendments is to increase the number of directors on the boards of public broadcasters KBS, MBC, and EBS, and to change the governance structure by expanding the director nomination rights to external bodies such as broadcasting and media-related academic societies and viewer committees.

The Democratic Party of Korea passed the amendment bills on the three broadcasting laws and the establishment and operation of the Korea Communications Commission at the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee meeting held on the 18th without the ruling party's participation. The photo shows the full committee meeting held on the 14th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Specifically, the Broadcasting Act, introduced by Representative Han Junho, head of the Democratic Party's Media Reform Task Force, includes provisions to increase the number of KBS directors to 21, expand the director nomination rights, and guarantee the president's term. It also newly establishes a KBS President Candidate National Recommendation Committee to recommend candidates, and allows the board of directors to appoint the president through procedures such as a special majority vote and runoff voting.

The amendment to the Foundation for Broadcast Culture Act includes provisions to increase the number of directors of the Foundation for Broadcast Culture, the largest shareholder of MBC, to 21, the same as KBS, to ensure MBC's independent and autonomous operation. It also expands the director nomination rights to various entities such as broadcasting and media-related academic societies and viewer committees. Additionally, it newly establishes an MBC President Candidate National Recommendation Committee to recommend candidates, and allows the board to recommend the president through procedures such as a special majority vote and runoff voting. Furthermore, if a candidate recommended by the Foundation for Broadcast Culture is appointed as president, the term is set to three years, and except in cases where performing duties becomes extremely difficult or impossible, the term is guaranteed.

The amendment to the Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act similarly increases the number of EBS directors to 21, expands the director nomination rights to various entities such as broadcasting and media-related academic societies and viewer committees, and designates the president's appointing authority to the president of the Republic of Korea. It also establishes an EBS President Candidate National Recommendation Committee to recommend candidates, and allows the board to appoint the president through procedures such as a special majority vote and runoff voting. The provision guaranteeing the EBS president's term is also included.

The Broadcasting 3 Acts amendment is similar to the one legislated during the 21st National Assembly. However, unlike the previous amendment, the enforcement date has been changed from "six months after promulgation" to "from the date of promulgation." This measure takes into account the expiration of the terms of public broadcaster directors, such as those of the Foundation for Broadcast Culture, the major shareholder of MBC, and the KBS board, scheduled for August.

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