DP railroads bill to reduce gov't influence over broadcaster MBC

The liberal Democratic Party (DP) railroaded one of four controversial bills to reduce the government's influence over public broadcasters on Monday after forcing an end to a filibuster by the conservative People Power Party (PPP).

A bill amending the Foundation for Broadcast Culture Act passes in a 187-0 vote in the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, on Monday after People Power Party lawmakers boycotted the vote. [YONHAP]

The liberal Democratic Party (DP) railroaded one of four controversial bills to reduce the government's influence over public broadcasters on Monday after forcing an end to a filibuster by the conservative People Power Party (PPP).

The amendment to the Foundation for Broadcast Culture Act passed with 187 lawmakers voting in favor and none opposing after PPP lawmakers boycotted the vote.

Under the bill, the number of board directors at public broadcaster MBC would increase from nine to 21, though the possibility remains that President Yoon Suk Yeol could veto the bill.

Other broadcasting law amendments being pushed by the DP would overhaul governance at public broadcasters KBS and EBS by reducing the government and National Assembly’s power to appoint directors at the companies.

The PPP argues that the DP’s proposed revisions to broadcasting laws would increase the number of liberal-minded officials on the boards of public broadcasters, while the DP contends that the bills are intended to reduce the role of political orientation and allegiance in the selection of broadcasting company board members.

Although the PPP has held multiple filibusters to block the passage of the four broadcasting bills, the DP has forcefully terminated all of them. Alongside its allies, the DP controls more than three-fifths of seats in the 300-member National Assembly, the percentage required to end a filibuster 24 hours after it has begun.

On Friday, the DP passed a bill to reform the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), the state broadcasting regulator. The bill increases the number of standing commission members needed to issue a resolution from two to four.

The DP on Friday also intended to pass an impeachment motion against Lee Sang-in, the KCC’s acting chief, but he preempted the move by resigning the same day.

The DP’s impeachment motion seems aimed at blocking the KCC from appointing members of MBC’s board of directors while a majority of the commission’s standing member positions are unfilled.

Lee’s resignation, which was accepted by President Yoon Suk Yeol, left the KCC without any standing members.

The presidential office released a statement on Friday calling the DP’s actions an attempt “to cripple the KCC’s oversight of not only broadcasting but also IT and communications policies.”

The last broadcasting bill presented to the floor — an amendment to the Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act — will likely be voted on by the National Assembly on Tuesday if the DP successfully ends the PPP’s filibuster.

Yoon vetoed the three broadcasting bills aimed at reforming governance at KBS, MBC and EBS after they were passed by the DP-controlled legislature last year, leading observers to believe that he would likely do so again.

BY MICHAEL LEE [lee.junhyuk@joongang.co.kr]