hankyoreh

As a controversial bill to create a body governing both broadcasting and telecommunications passed the National Assembly the day before yesterday, the nation will soon see the launch of the Broadcasting-Telecommunications Commission. In this day and age, when the broadcast and telecommunications industries are quickly converging, it makes sense to set up a body that can formulate new policies. However, it is also worrisome that the new body will be under the control of the president. The status of the commission, and the method by which the body will be constructed, could threaten this ideal. Under these circumstances, President Lee Myung-bak’s new administration reportedly considering naming Choi Si-jung, one of his senior political advisers and former president of Gallup Korea, to head the commission. Many analysts point out that the appointment of Choi might indicate Lee’s intention to take control of broadcasting.

The new body will nominate the board of directors of the public Korean Broadcasting System, or KBS, and have the right to hire executives for the Foundation for Broadcast Culture, which holds a large amount of shares in Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation, the private broadcaster also known as MBC. It will also have a significant amount of influence on broadcasters nationwide through the policies and regulations it creates. As the president will appoint the head of the commission and one of its members, the commission has become affiliated with the president, and it will have a great deal of power. With an additional commission member to be recommended by the ruling party, three out of the five members of the commission will be named by the government and the ruling party. If the president has a mind to do so, he can control the broadcast media through the commission. If the commission was truly established to promote freedom, public service and the public interest through broadcasting, it should be formed with people who can make decisions without being swayed by factional interests, no matter who has the right to appoint them.

In this respect, it is doubtful that Choi is the right person to head the commission. Lee and Choi are from the same hometown, and Choi was a member of a six-person group that campaigned for Lee during the presidential election. Choi is one of Lee’s closest aides and has been called “Lee’s mentor.” He was a candidate for chief of the National Information Service in the new administration. He may be the right person for reading Lee’s intentions and carrying them out, but people are worried about whether he can guarantee freedom and fairness in broadcasting.

Previous administrations have sounded like they, too, were placing an emphasis on independence and fairness in broadcasting, while actually trying to interfere with these ideals. However, none of them have been as open as this. During December’s presidential election campaign, Grand National Party lawmakers threatened to privatize MBC and urged the president of KBS to step down, even though his tenure is set to expire next year. If the powers controlling broadcasting and broadcasters acquire a taste for power and act accordingly, broadcasting itself will become like a weapon, rather than an instrument of society. The National Assembly should verify the qualifications of Lee’s choice for commissioner at his confirmation hearing.


Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]