National Assembly Committee Subcommittee Passes Three Broadcasting Laws Led by Democratic Party

Broadcasting Act, Foundation for Broadcast Culture Act, and Educational Broadcasting System Act
Passed Despite Opposition Lawmakers' Walkout
Key Points: Board Expansion and Establishment of Viewers' Committee

The so-called "three broadcasting laws," which focus on expanding the boards of directors of public broadcasters, passed the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee's Legislation Review Subcommittee on July 2, led by the Democratic Party. The three broadcasting laws are expected to be addressed during the provisional session in July.

On this day, the committee held a subcommittee meeting and approved the amendments to the Broadcasting Act, the Foundation for Broadcast Culture Act, and the Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act through a vote. The amendment to the Foundation for Broadcast Culture Act passed with six votes in favor and one abstention, while the Broadcasting Act and the Educational Broadcasting System Act each passed with six votes in favor after opposition party lawmakers left the meeting. The People Power Party, except for Choi Hyungdu, the committee secretary, did not attend the meeting. Choi participated only in the vote on the Foundation for Broadcast Culture Act, abstained, and then left the meeting.

Kim Hyun, the Democratic Party secretary of the committee, told reporters after the meeting, "Discussions on revising the three broadcasting laws have been ongoing since 2016 but have not borne fruit, and the three broadcasting laws discussed since 2022 were frustrated twice by vetoes from the Yoon Suk Yeol administration. This time, the Democratic Party and the Rebuilding Korea Party created a unified proposal and achieved results."

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Han Minsoo, a Democratic Party lawmaker, said, "The expansion of the board of directors and the creation of a viewers' committee were necessary because the Yoon Suk Yeol administration attempted to control and oppress broadcasting and the media in an unprecedented and outrageous manner. Today's passage in the subcommittee marks the starting point for the enactment of the three broadcasting laws and for securing fairness and independence in broadcasting."

Choi Hyungdu explained his absence from the vote by saying, "I did not participate because I disagreed with the rapid pace of the proceedings. The formation of a programming committee is a significant issue that could infringe upon the constitutionally guaranteed programming freedom of broadcasters." He added, "Even academic associations in the media field have pointed out that the discussion on amending the Broadcasting Act is being rushed."

Kim Hyun stated, "We will convene a plenary session as soon as possible, refer the bills to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and handle them at the general meeting." However, it appears that the bills will be addressed after the July provisional session, rather than during the June session, which ends on July 4.