Seoul: The ruling Democratic Party of Korea processed the Broadcasting Act amendment unilaterally in the National Assembly plenary session Tuesday. It is the party's first bill to pass the Assembly under its newly elected chair, Rep. Jung Chung-rae.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the bill proposes an increase in the number of directors in several broadcasting networks from 11 to 15, with 40 percent being recommended by the Assembly. The remainder will be recommended by employee representatives, audience committees, academia, and groups of lawyers. Though the bill appears to complicate direct political control over broadcasts, concerns have arisen that news reporting could be unduly influenced depending on its implementation.
The involvement of left-leaning labor unions, civic groups, and lawyers is expected to impact the composition of boards and selection of chief executives. Traditionally, chief executives have been recommended by the Korea Communications Commission and appointed by the president. However, under the new bill, a broadcasting enterprise must form a CEO search committee of 100 or more people to recommend candidates to the board.
The bill, which will take effect immediately upon promulgation, mandates that the chief executive and all other board members be replaced within three months. This rule applies not only to KBS, Korea's primary public service broadcaster, but also to private companies like YTN and Yonhap News TV. As a result, executives in charge of news at these channels are expected to resign within three months.
Experts have raised constitutional concerns, suggesting the bill infringes on the rights of shareholders in private enterprises. Broadcasting networks have historically managed CEO search committees independently, but the bill now requires consensus with labor unions on committee composition, potentially giving unions significant influence over management and news reporting.
The Democratic Party's motive for integrating labor unions and civic groups-broad supporters of the party-into the governance structure of broadcasters is seen as an attempt to shape public opinion favorably. However, the issue of political influence over broadcasting networks is not exclusive to the Democratic Party; both ruling and opposition parties have historically sought control over media when in power.
The Democratic Party argues that the bill aims to enhance the independence and fairness of broadcasting. To achieve this, they emphasize that controversial partisans should not be recommended, and that examination standards and evaluation results for candidates should be made transparent. Consensus-based candidate shortlisting is deemed desirable.
Despite the bill's significant impact on broadcasters' foundation, there has been minimal discussion since its introduction on July 1. The People Power Party, outnumbered and opposed to the bill, finds its resistance largely ignored. Even as an opposition party, the Democratic Party had a history of pushing through bills, relying on presidential vetoes as the only check.
The Democratic Party's new leadership plans to address additional legislation, including the "yellow envelope" bill, which faces business opposition, and a second revision of the Commercial Act in the coming plenary session. This legislative approach has been perceived as disregarding the views of nearly half the population.