KOREA: SBS TV Urged to Better Protect Public Interests

Reform-minded groups criticize Seoul Broadcasting System for putting business interest ahead of its role as a media provider to the public

The Korea Times
Tuesday, November 23, 2004

By Lee Jin-woo

Scholars and civil right activists on Tuesday called on Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) to change its ownership and management structure to play a more active role in protecting public interests.

In a debate organized by Cultural Action, a civic group and the National Union of Media Workers,

Prof. Kim Jae-young of Chungnam National University in Taejon and Prof. Won Yong-jin of Sokang University in Seoul made recommendations on the development of the private broadcaster.

"SBS should work for the interests of the public as one of the major broadcasters in the nation while using the air and radio waves shared by the public," Prof. Won said.

"SBS has neglected to keep its promise to return some of its profits to society. It has also pursued commercial applications too much. As a result, it has triggered fierce competition among other major broadcasters to attract more viewers with commercial programs," he said.

Reform-minded journalists, scholars and activists including the president of the National Union of Media Workers Shin Hak-lim have continued to call for the public aspect of SBS.

SBS, the third largest broadcasting company in South Korea, has been thrown into controversy over its broadcasting operation, which has been criticized for allegedly putting business interests ahead of its role as a media provider to the public.

Some activists even urged the Korean Broadcasting Commission, the nation’s regulator of broadcasters, to revoke SBS’ license, claiming that it has abused and misused the airwaves.

The government allowed the establishment of SBS in 1990, on the condition that it returned 15 percent of its pretax annual profits to society in order to serve public interests. However, since 1998 SBS has often been criticized for breaking its promise.

Munhwa Broadcasting Corp. (MBC), another major local broadcaster, has recently raised doubts over SBS’ campaign emphasizing the importance of supplying clean water, as it was closely related to the interests of its largest shareholder Taeyoung Corp., one of Korea’s major construction companies.

Yoon Se-young, the founder of SBS who is also the chairman of Taeyoung Corp., has often been blamed for wielding his managerial power over the production of broadcasting programs.

Yoon showed up at the Korean Broadcasting Commission on Nov. 15 and expressed his willingness to return 30 billion won to society over the next three years. The sum is 21 billion won short of the overdue amount.

The National Union of Media Workers strongly criticized Yoon for breaking his promise.

"SBS has earned around 420 billion won in profits during the 1991-2003 period. SBS should reveal all of its donation records for the last 14 years and fulfill all its obligations," the union said. It also urged Yoon to step down as president of SBS.

Date Posted: 11/23/2004