The nation’s broadcasting regulator said Thursday it will consider raising a public broadcaster’s monthly viewing fee this year in an effort to stabilize its finances.

“We will come up with measures to stabilize finances of public broadcasters,” the Korea Communications Commission said in a 2013 policy report to President Park Geun-hye.

The report did not directly mention KBS, the country’s largest public broadcaster. However, a KCC member said during a press briefing on the plan on Wednesday that it includes raising the KBS viewing fee.

There have been several attempts by ruling party lawmakers to raise the monthly viewing fee from its current 2,500 won ($2.20) to 3,500 won.

The fee has remained unchanged since 1981. However, those attempts were frustrated due to strong protests from opposition lawmakers and unfavorable public sentiment since the fee is close to a tax which all households with television sets are obliged to pay. (Yonhap News)