DP railroads broadcasting bill, raising concerns about news reporting bias

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea processed the Broadcasting Act amendment unilaterally in the National Assembly plenary session Tuesday.

It is the party's first bill to pass the Assembly under its newly elected chair, Rep. Jung Chung-rae.

According to the bill, the number of directors of several broadcasting networks will increase from 11 to 15, and the Assembly will recommend 40 percent of them. The rest will be recommended by employee representatives, audience committees, academia and groups of lawyers.

On the surface, the bill seems to make it difficult for a political party to control broadcasts directly, but it arouses concerns that news reporting could become unduly influenced, depending on how it is implemented.

Left-leaning labor unions, civic groups and lawyers are expected to influence the composition of boards and the selection of chief executives.

So far, chief executives have been recommended by the Korea Communications Commission and appointed by the president.

Under the bill, a broadcasting enterprise should create a CEO search committee consisting of 100 or more people that will recommend candidates to the board.

The bill will take effect immediately after promulgation. The chief executive and all the other board members should be replaced within three months of proclamation.

This applies not only to KBS, Korea's primary public service broadcaster, but also to YTN and Yonhap News TV, which are private companies.

Chief executives and executives in charge of news at the news channels should practically resign within three months of the law enforcement.

Experts say this by-law possibly violates the constitution in that it infringes on the rights of shareholders in a private enterprise. Broadcasting networks have run CEO search committees autonomously. However, the bill obligates broadcasters to "agree" with their labor unions on the committee composition. This means that the companies should select their chief executives based on consensus with their unions. The clause clears the way for labor unions to exert an enormous influence on company management and news reporting.

It is not hard to guess why the party sought to involve the labor unions and civic groups, which broadly support it, in the process of forming the governance structure of broadcasters.

The party apparently wants to mold public opinion in their favor by making broadcasters trumpet what they are doing well, while watering down reports on their blunders.

But it is hard to state categorically that it is only a Democratic Party problem.

Ruling and opposition parties have both tried to control broadcasting networks whenever they came to power, by appointing loyalists to top posts. Biased news reports used to be commonplace.

The Democratic Party said the bill aims to strengthen the independence and fairness of broadcasting.

Then, controversial partisans must not be recommended.

In screening director and chief executive candidates, examination standards and evaluation results must be disclosed transparently.

It is desirable to shortlist candidates through consensus if possible.

Media labor unions demanded the revision of the Broadcasting Act, and the pro-labor Democratic Party processed the bill unilaterally.

Though the bill affects the foundation of broadcasters, there have seldom been discussions since it was unveiled on July 1.

The outnumbered People Power Party voiced its opposition, but it was treated like a scarecrow.

Even when it was an opposition party, the Democratic Party railroaded bills as they pleased, with only a presidential veto to stop them.

Now that it has taken power, it can pass whatever bills it wants without opposition input.

Jung visited leaders of minor opposition parties to greet them after being elected chair of the Democratic Party on Aug. 2, but he has not visited the main opposition People Power Party. He said that “only humans can shake hands with each other.”

The Democratic Party said it would handle the "yellow envelope" bill — which business circles bitterly oppose — and the second revision of the Commercial Act at the plenary session this month.

Its new leadership has begun a tyranny of legislation, ignoring almost half of the people completely.


khnews@heraldcorp.com