Seoul: The National Assembly on Tuesday passed a controversial broadcasting bill designed to overhaul the governance of public broadcasters. This move was spearheaded by the ruling Democratic Party (DP), despite facing strong opposition from the main opposition People Power Party (PPP).
According to Yonhap News Agency, the amendment to the Broadcasting Act was approved with 178 lawmakers in favor and two against, during a plenary session that had 180 lawmakers present. In protest, PPP lawmakers exited the parliamentary chamber, demonstrating their disapproval of the bill.
The DP had introduced the bill on Monday, prompting the PPP to launch a filibuster in an attempt to block its passage. Despite this, the DP, leveraging its majority in the National Assembly, proceeded to vote on the bill after the PPP's 24-hour filibuster concluded.
The bill is part of a trio of contentious broadcasting reforms aimed at altering the governance framework of the nation's public broadcast media. The reforms seek to diminish the influence of the government and the National Assembly in appointing board directors. Specifically, the revised Broadcasting Act will expand the board of directors at KBS from 11 to 15 members.
The legislation has been a source of conflict between the rival parties, with the PPP contending that the bills will lead to an increased presence of progressive figures on the boards of public broadcasters.
The remaining two broadcasting bills, alongside the so-called yellow envelope bill intended to extend labor protections, and a revision to the Commercial Act, are anticipated to be addressed in the August session.