Assemblyman Lee Byung-hoon Proposes Bill to Accurately Track Newspaper Sales Circulation

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Congressman Lee Byung-hoon (Democratic Party of Korea·Gwangju Dong-gu Nam-gu Eul) announced on the 24th that he has proposed a bill to accurately ascertain the sales volume of newspapers.

The amendments to the "Act on the Promotion of Newspapers, etc." and the "Act on the Implementation of Advertising by Government Agencies and Public Corporations," proposed by Congressman Lee, include the introduction of a newspaper distribution tracking system using barcodes to computerize distribution data and conducting on-site investigations of newspaper companies to verify the validity of the data.

The current law stipulates that the press promotion fund is to be used for supporting improvements in the distribution structure of newspapers and magazines, and allows requesting data on total circulation and paid sales circulation from business operators managing newspapers for the selection of government advertising media.

However, controversies over the reliability of the ABC circulation audit, which the government uses to ascertain paid sales circulation, have continued, raising the need for direct investigations of newspaper agencies to accurately determine distribution circulation.

In fact, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's office inspection of the ABC Association announced in March showed that the average paid circulation rate of newspaper agencies was only 62.99%, and the sincerity rate was 55.37%, significantly different from the over 90% rates announced by the association.

The Ministry confirmed opaque handling throughout the circulation audit process, including the selection and notification of sample agencies, and recommended institutional improvements to enhance transparency. However, there are calls for more efficient and fundamental measures to secure transparency and objectivity in newspaper publication and sales circulation.

The newspaper law amendment proposed by Congressman Lee requires newspaper businesses to print and distribute newspapers using barcodes or other newspaper distribution standard codes applicable to printed materials. It also mandates the use of computer systems to calculate newspaper distribution data to support newspaper businesses and implement government advertising.

Along with this, the amendment to the Government Advertising Act requires related officials to conduct regular on-site inspections of agencies to verify the validity of data on total circulation and paid sales circulation of newspapers.

Congressman Lee said, "The ABC system, which aims to fairly audit newspaper circulation, has lost trust amid allegations of manipulation and fraud," adding, "To dispel false data and fraud suspicions and to eliminate the malpractice of distributing public funds based on unreliable data, computerized management of newspaper distribution is essential."

He continued, "The credibility of our media, which has ranked lowest among 40 major countries worldwide for five consecutive years, is a serious issue that can shake the foundation of democracy," emphasizing, "It is urgent for newspaper companies to make self-purification efforts to restore lost trust and establish a transparent newspaper distribution structure."