Kim Tae-kyu, the acting chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission, stated on the 20th that he maintains the position that the collection of TV license fees should be handled separately in relation to the proposed amendment to the Broadcasting Act.
Kim noted during a briefing at the Government Sejong Center that "the proposed amendment to the Broadcasting Act is expected to be ultimately decided on whether to be reconsidered at the Cabinet meeting tomorrow." He added that "if the KCC were in a normal state, it would be possible to discuss the bill sufficiently and determine whether to request a reconsideration, but currently, the KCC is unable to deliberate and vote with its one-person structure."
He continued, "The amendment elevates the collection method specified in the Enforcement Decree of the Broadcasting Act to a law, but since no agreement has been reached between the ruling and opposition parties, if the system changes again shortly after the separate collection system has been implemented, it will create significant chaos for the more than 14.8 million households already under separate collection." He added, "I have been consistently contemplating several issues regarding the collection method of the license fee" and hoped that "with the prompt normalization of the KCC, multifaceted measures for stabilizing the funding of public broadcasting, including the efficient collection method of the license fee, can be actively discussed."
When asked whether this position would be conveyed at the Cabinet meeting, Kim said, "I think Acting Chairperson Choi Sang-mok wants to hear more opinions from various individuals at the Cabinet meeting before making a decision" and noted that "individual Commissioners will have their opinions, so it will be adequately discussed during the meeting process."
Regarding the Constitutional Court scheduling a ruling date for the impeachment case of Chairperson Lee Jin-sook on the 23rd, he explained, "It is not appropriate to hastily predict and comment on this matter. We will work in accordance with the Constitutional Court's decision" while expressing his "immense gratitude for setting a ruling date within the 180-day timeframe."
Meanwhile, KBS also expressed its position, stating that "to overcome the funding crisis of public broadcasting and to secure the sustainability and competitiveness of public broadcasting and the broadcasting industry as a whole, integrated collection of license fees is necessary" and emphasized that "once the stabilization of the license fee is achieved, we will do our utmost to strengthen publicness, including producing competitive programs that guarantee fairness and public interest, as well as protecting socially vulnerable groups."