Restructuring of Public Broadcasting and Media Agencies Gains Momentum as Foundation Act Passes Legislation Committee

A bill aimed at establishing the Korea Broadcast Media Communications Promotion Agency and reorganizing the functions of existing broadcasting and media-related public agencies has passed the Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly.

According to the Korea Communications Commission, the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee held a plenary meeting today and approved three partial amendment bills concerning the Framework Act on Broadcasting Communications Development, the Broadcasting Act, and the Act on Promotion of Broadcast Advertising Sales, with 10 votes in favor and 6 against.

The amendments include the legal basis for establishing the Korea Broadcast Media Communications Promotion Agency to support the promotion of the broadcast media sector, protection of viewers' and users' rights and interests, and vitalization of the broadcast advertising industry.

The new agency is structured to integrate the Korea Broadcast Advertising Corporation (KOBACO) and the Korea Media Foundation—both under the jurisdiction of the commission—by comprehensively succeeding to their assets, rights, duties, and employees.

In addition, the bills establish the legal grounds to transfer assets, rights, duties, and affiliated employees related to the commission's projects currently handled by the Korea Communications Agency (KCA), the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA), the National Information Society Agency (NIA), the Korea Association of ICT Promotion (KAIT), and the Radio Promotion Association (RAPA) to the new agency in accordance with a restructuring plan.

Detailed restructuring plans are to be established separately and approved by the commission.

The new agency will be tasked with a wide range of duties, including broadcast advertising sales agency services, promotion of the advertising industry, support for content production and export, audience share surveys, user damage relief, operation of a transparency center, and fostering the broadcast media industry.

Under the bill, an establishment committee is to be formed immediately upon promulgation to begin preparations for the agency's launch.

Once passed by the full National Assembly, the bills will go through government delivery and promulgation procedures, taking effect on January 1 next year.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.