[2023 National Audit] Science and ICT Committee Faces Partisan Clash Over KBS President, License Fees, and Neutrality

With "KBS Appearance Panel Biased Toward Opposition"
Opposition Criticizes New President Candidate's Qualifications and Nomination Process

At the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee's audit, the ruling and opposition parties strongly clashed over the nomination of the new KBS president, separate collection of license fees, and the neutrality of broadcast panelists.

On the morning of the 17th, the committee conducted a national audit of the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) and the Educational Broadcasting System (EBS) at the National Assembly.

From the start of the session, the ruling and opposition parties clashed over the nomination of Park Min as the new KBS president. Democratic Party lawmakers brought placards reading "Condemn Yoon Seok-yeol administration's broadcast takeover" and "Strongly oppose parachute appointments in public broadcasting" into the hearing room, which the People Power Party lawmakers opposed. When a commotion broke out, Chairman Jang Je-won declared a suspension of the audit, which resumed after about 10 minutes. At that time, the People Power Party countered by bringing placards saying "KBS Minnochoong No-Young Broadcasting, the people are enraged."

On the 17th, during the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee's audit of the Korea Broadcasting System and others, a placard reading "Strong Opposition to Public Broadcasting Parachute Presidents" was attached to the Democratic Party lawmaker seats. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

During the questioning, Democratic Party lawmakers condemned the appointment of the KBS president as a "parachute appointment." Lawmaker Heo Sook-jung criticized, "I believe the KBS board's resolution to nominate Park Min as president is clearly and obviously invalid due to illegal procedures," adding, "When KBS decided at the temporary board meeting on the 20th of last month to not form a citizen participation group for the timing and method of the president's public recruitment, it seems to ignore citizens' opinions and fairness."

They also questioned the background of nominating the new president while the provisional injunction to suspend the dismissal of former KBS president Kim Ui-chul had not yet been decided. When Heo asked, "The conclusion on Kim's case will come on the 20th. Isn't it common sense to proceed with the appointment process after the court's decision?" Kim Deok-jae, acting president of KBS, replied, "I find it difficult to comment on that matter."

Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Young-chan raised doubts about Park's qualifications. He asked, "Are you aware that allegations of violating the Anti-Graft Act were included during the KBS president screening process?" and urged the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) to "request an official interpretation from the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission." KCC Vice Chairman Lee Sang-in responded, "This is a matter for the KBS board to review, but we will also monitor the situation." Earlier, the KBS Media Union had reported Park to the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission for violating the Anti-Graft Act. The union claimed that Park took a three-month leave of absence in 2021 to serve as an advisor to a Japanese company, receiving 5 million won per month.

The People Power Party pointed out the neutrality of KBS current affairs panelists. Lawmaker Kim Byung-wook criticized, referring to KBS radio panelists during the president's visit to the U.S., "Isn't it absurd to think that KBS radio, overwhelmingly filled with left-leaning panelists, can provide balanced and fair reporting?"

In response, Acting President Kim emphasized, "It is difficult for us to understand the claim that there are many anti-government panelists as you mentioned," adding, "Even after conducting a full survey of radio panelists, that is not the case. In fact, there are far more panelists related to the ruling party."

In response to this statement, People Power Party lawmaker Park Sung-joong (secretary) protested through a procedural remark, calling it a "complete false statement." He requested KBS to "submit all investigations related to who specifically appeared on broadcasts concerning the recent Gangseo District mayor by-election for nearly two months."

The ruling and opposition parties also remained at odds over the KBS license fee issue, which will be fully integrated and terminated this month. Democratic Party lawmaker Park Chan-dae pointed out in the morning questioning, "There is considerable dispute over whether the collection entity is KEPCO or KBS, and the Housing Managers Association has declared refusal to manage license fees," adding, "No agreement has been reached among the collection entities, and it is already mid-October. The government is standing by while causing tremendous confusion."

On the other hand, the ruling party emphasized the strong public demand for abolishing the license fee. People Power Party lawmaker Kim Young-sik said, "KBS has never analyzed or prepared measures regarding separate collection of license fees over the past decades," adding, "Despite the public's overwhelming demand for abolishing the license fee, it was ignored." Acting President Kim responded, "Integrated collection of license fees has been carried out without problems for the past 30 years."