Parties Criticize KBS for Partiality

There was a heated debate yesterday at a parliamentary investigation over the privatization of KBS 2 TV and biased reports on the presidential election by KBS.

Rep. Koh Heung-gil of the Grand National Party (GNP) said, "A high-ranking official of KBS said his colleagues that Roh Mu-hyun will be elected as president and encouraged employees to keep calm. It shows that KBS is biased toward a specific political party."

Rep. Chung Byeong-guk of the GNP said, "When a KBS program covered a corruption scandal involving influential political figures, the GNP tried to repeal the program, only to no avail. It is a testament that the KBS` commitment to currying favor with the incumbent administration was reflected in the program."

In response, Rep. Cho Bae-sook of the Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) defied the allegations of GNP lawmakers, saying, "KBS reported little about the draft-dodging scandal involving the son of Lee Hoi-chang, GNP presidential candidate. It shows that KBS is catering to the GNP instead of the MDP."

Other lawmakers noted that KBS 2 TV should be privatized as soon as possible since it does not serve for the public good and has been commercialized.

Rep. Shin Young-gyun of the GNP said, "According to a report released by KBS in 2001, Public Service Index (PSI) of KBS 2 stood at 67.95, lower than MBC with 68.9 and SBS with 68.25. Hence the need to privatize KBS 2 TV."

Reps Chung Dong-chae and Kim Sung-ho of the MDP also said that there is mounting demand that KBS 2 TV be privatized.

Rep. Koh said, "The Korean Broadcasters Association proposed that the Korean team`s matches be jointly broadcast by the three major broadcasting companies and other matches be distributed to them. But only KBS made strong resistance. KBS, which led to the severe waste of airwave during the World Cup, should privatize KBS 2.

Meanwhile, Park Gweon-sang, president of KBS said, "I cannot admit the allegation that KBS 2 does not serve for the public good."

Seung-Heon Lee ddr@donga.com