[2021 National Audit] Kim Young-sik "Bonus Points for North Korea Promotion... Violation of Broadcasting Programming Rights"

The Korea Communications Commission Establishes Additional Points for North Korean Propaganda Programs in Broadcaster Evaluation Criteria
Concerns Raised Over Violation of Broadcasting Law's Programming Rights

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] The Korea Communications Commission is reportedly pushing for a plan to award additional points in broadcaster evaluations if they schedule North Korean propaganda programs, raising concerns that this infringes on broadcasting scheduling autonomy.

According to data recently submitted to Kim Young-sik, a member of the National Assembly from the People Power Party on the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Communications Committee, a total of nine new scoring adjustments and evaluation items will be introduced in the broadcasting evaluation. Among these, a new evaluation item for scheduling programs related to inter-Korean issues will be established, awarding 5 points for program scheduling and an additional 5 points based on the time slot.

It is considered very unusual to award extra points for specific program categories in broadcasting evaluations. While there are evaluation items for mandatory broadcasting obligations such as scheduling programs for the disabled or airing disaster broadcasts, awarding points for inter-Korean related programs, which lack legal basis in the Broadcasting Act or its enforcement decree, is unprecedented.

Kim Young-sik, Member of the National Assembly of the People Power Party

The 10 points allocated by the KCC for North Korean programs exceed the penalty points for corrections ordered by the Press Arbitration Commission (-4) or court-ordered corrections (-6). Since broadcasting evaluations carry a total of 400 points out of 1000 for broadcaster license renewals, this can significantly impact the renewal results.

Currently, KBS schedules programs such as 'Nambuk-ui Chang', and MBC airs 'Tongil Jeonmangdae'. Among private broadcasters, Channel A has 'Ije Mannareo Gamnida'.

When scheduling North Korean programs and citing North Korean materials, copyright fees belong to North Korea and are managed by the Inter-Korean Economic and Cultural Cooperation Foundation, chaired by former Blue House Chief of Staff Lim Jong-seok. The scale of copyright fees and remittance details are not disclosed.

Assemblyman Kim Young-sik stated, “Even if it is a pro-North regime, given the ongoing provocations from North Korea, it is questionable why additional points are being awarded for scheduling North Korean propaganda programs,” and added, “The KCC’s involvement in scheduling through provisions not found in the Broadcasting Act is highly likely to infringe on the autonomy of broadcasting scheduling and should be withdrawn promptly.”