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The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism made a proposal to KBS to produce a variety program to highlight the Lee Myung-bak government’s policy legislation process and even sent official documents requesting 600 million won to 700 million won (US$404,500 to $471,900) in support for the production to 15 government ministries and organizations, Democratic Party lawmaker Choi Moon-soon announced Thursday.

In his press release, Choi said, “The Ministry of Culture established a plan to produce a total of 24 episodes of a program with the format of citizen policy suggestions and air it during family viewing time from this April to October, and to supplement its budget of 600 million won to 700 million won with the Ministry of Culture’s budget and allotted amounts from participating ministries and offices.”

Choi commented, “This is both an act that severely infringes upon a broadcasting company’s rights to programming, which is a decision that should be made autonomously, and a measure that effectively views KBS as a government broadcasting station.”

The Ministry of Culture recently sent two official announcements to 15 government ministries, offices and organizations requesting support for the program, writing, “We are seeking to create a starting point for promoting citizen interest and participation in ‘livelihood-sympathetic policy’ and minimizing livelihood discomfort and difficulties.“ The program proposed by the ministry would be a variety show, with the working title of “Idea King! Changing the World,” and a format in which citizens offer ideas and entertainers, experts and government members examine their feasibility, after which some of the ideas would be reflected in policy. “It’s still under discussion, so there’s been no decision on whether the broadcast is going ahead,” a KBS official said.

Some expressions found in the production process outlined by the Ministry of Culture could raise a controversy over infringement of production autonomy. In the division of roles indicated by the ministry, there would be an idea selection stage, in which the broadcasting company chooses a list of broadcast topics and the Culture Ministry “examines their suitability for broadcast,” and a production and broadcasting stage in which the broadcasting company produces the program and the ministry takes part in “fine-tuning and screening.”

A producer at KBS said, “I’m concerned the government might use approval as an excuse to infringe upon production autonomy, with the administration thinking that KBS is a tool for promoting affairs of state.”

But a Ministry of Culture official said, “The Ministry of Culture simply made a proposal to the broadcasting company, and whether or not to broadcast it is an issue for KBS to decide.” The official added, “Assemblyman Choi’s criticism that the Ministry of Culture has infringed upon a broadcasting company’s programming rights is ridiculous.”

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