The Korean Broadcasting Actors Union has urged the passage of a bill to amend the Broadcasting Act for the combined collection of KBS license fees.
On the 15th, the Korean Broadcasting Actors Union issued an official statement saying, "We earnestly appeal for the resolution of the bill to amend the Broadcasting Act for the combined collection of KBS license fees."
The Korean Broadcasting Actors Union stated, "The domestic broadcasting video content market has grown through coexistence and cooperation. For actors to meet viewers, the stability of the content production market must be guaranteed," and added, "Currently, as the market is experiencing a downturn, the jobs of actors are also facing a serious crisis. The recent financial difficulties faced by KBS have had a significant impact on this situation."
They continued, "KBS, as the representative broadcaster of South Korea, has led the creation of unique and competitive content and has fulfilled the public responsibilities assigned to public broadcasting. However, KBS, which has elevated the status of K-dramas and led the Korean Wave, is struggling due to the deteriorating market environment and intensified competition, not only from domestic broadcasters but also from global OTT providers like YouTube, Netflix, and Disney+."
They emphasized, "It is undeniable that KBS needs financial support to faithfully fulfill its role as a public broadcaster," and stated, "However, the policy of separating the collection of license fees implemented in 2023 has worsened KBS's financial situation, which was already in deficit at the time. The policy of separate billing for license fees has reduced KBS's license fee revenue, leading to a contraction in public interest broadcasting production. Additionally, due to unnecessary collection costs and financial expenditures, the annual loss amounts to 120 billion won."
Furthermore, they argued, "The issue of KBS's license fees cannot be viewed as merely KBS's problem," stating, "To ensure the survival and continuity of our members' creative activities, stable finances must be secured for broadcasters. Moreover, for KBS to operate as a public broadcaster for viewers and the public, the devastated broadcasting environment caused by the threats of large capital and asymmetric regulations must be improved."
In conclusion, "Our union appeals to the members of the National Assembly to pass the bill to amend the Broadcasting Act, including measures for the collection of license fees, so that public broadcaster KBS can actively produce high-quality content based on public resources, meet viewers' expectations, and compete equally with global OTTs to elevate the status of Korean popular culture."
Last December, a bill to amend the Broadcasting Act, which included the collection of TV license fees combined with electricity bills, passed the National Assembly's plenary session. Acting President Choi Sang-mok, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, exercised the right to request reconsideration (veto) of the bill, and the amendment is now back in the National Assembly for reconsideration. It is scheduled to be discussed again in the National Assembly's plenary session on the 17th.
In response, the Korean Broadcasting Actors Union, along with the Korean Voice Actors Association, KBS Comedians Association, and the Korean Broadcasting Comedians Association, also issued a statement supporting the combined collection of license fees.
