KBS fee increase? Not now

The Korean Broadcasting Commission submitted a written opinion to the National Assembly agreeing with a proposal to raise the television fee for the Korea Broadcasting System (KBS), the country’s public broadcaster.
The proposal will be reviewed by the assembly’s Culture and Tourism Committee to be voted on at the plenary session.
The bottom line is that it is unacceptable for the assembly to be manipulated by KBS to raise the fee by 60 percent.
We think that the proposal is not even worth discussion at the assembly’s committee unless KBS proves that it will no longer produce distorted programs and improve lax management.
The commission’s written opinion does not reflect public sentiment.
The written opinion of the commission, of which two-thirds of the members are recommended by the president or the former governing Uri party, put too much weight on explaining the reasons for the fee increase.
The report said, “We admit the necessity to strengthen the broadcaster’s financial structure through the increase, but the increase should be accompanied by improved service and solid management.”
KBS should present evidence of its solid management and better service before the fee is raised, not after.
It is not the first time KBS has vowed to improve its management and produce impartial programs.
The public opposed the raise proposal because KBS did not keep its word and lost its impartiality.
Recently, KBS aired radio and television programs to try and explain the necessity of the fee increase.
Such behavior is a waste of public funds and is nothing less than evidence of the broadcaster’s partiality.
The fee increase will also bring forth diverse repercussions, including the strengthening of the landline broadcasting monopoly.
It would be better to discuss it later in depth under the next administration. The National Assembly should refuse to discuss the proposal.