KCC Awards Highest Score to Road Traffic Authority in Radio Broadcast Contest... Final Selection Deferred

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] The Korea Road Traffic Authority received the highest score in the selection evaluation for radio broadcasting operators in the Gyeonggi region but the final selection was postponed. This is due to the need for legal review on whether the Korea Road Traffic Authority is qualified to operate a comprehensive programming broadcast.

The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) held its 7th meeting of 2022 on the 21st, placing the agenda item "Selection of licensees for radio broadcasting operators in the Gyeonggi region" on the table. At the time of the announcement for selection, new license applications were submitted by Gyeongin Broadcasting, Gyeonggi Province, Korea Road Traffic Authority, OBS Gyeongin TV, K Broadcasting, New Gyeonggi Broadcasting, and Gyeonggi Residents Broadcasting. To ensure fairness, transparency, and expertise in the selection of radio broadcasting operators in the Gyeonggi region, the KCC formed a judging committee of 11 experts across five fields including broadcasting media, and conducted a five-day closed evaluation from the 14th to the 18th.

As a result of the evaluation for selecting broadcasting operators in the Gyeonggi region, the Korea Road Traffic Authority received the highest score of 787.01 points among the seven applicants. Following were OBS with 784.15 points, Gyeonggi Province with 759.88 points, Gyeongin Broadcasting with 738.76 points, New Gyeonggi Broadcasting with 709.15 points, Gyeonggi Residents Broadcasting with 691.01 points, and K Broadcasting with 686.15 points. Gyeongin Broadcasting was deemed ineligible for licensing due to having foreign shareholders.

According to the KCC, during the operation of the judging committee, concerns were raised about whether comprehensive programming broadcasts including news reporting fall outside the business scope of the Korea Road Traffic Authority under the Road Traffic Act and the Korea Road Traffic Authority’s Articles of Incorporation. This issue was also included in the judging committee’s evaluation report. The Road Traffic Act and the Articles of Incorporation define the business purpose of the Korea Road Traffic Authority as promotion and broadcasting related to road traffic safety, as well as the collection and provision of traffic broadcasting and traffic information, raising questions about whether it can operate comprehensive programming broadcasts including news reporting.

The KCC stated, "Before selecting the licensee, we will conduct legal reviews on whether the Korea Road Traffic Authority can operate a business including comprehensive programming broadcasts with news reporting, and then decide on the selection of the licensee."