South Korea passes law to reduce government oversight over public broadcasters

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) - South Korean parliament on Thursday passed a law aimed at reducing government's oversight over the three public broadcasters – KBS, MBC and EBS.

The ruling Democratic Party (DP)-dominated National Assembly passed the amendment to the Foundation for Broadcast Culture Act with 169 lawmakers in favor and one against, out of 171 lawmakers present, Seoul-based Yonhap News reported.

Lawmakers from main opposition People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote, arguing that the legislation will only increase the presence of progressive figures on the boards of public broadcasters.

The legislation is one of three contentious broadcasting bills pushed by the DP that would eventually alter the governance structure of the three public broadcasters by significantly increasing the number of their board directors and granting media and broadcasting associations.

*Writing by Aamir Latif