Lee approves promulgation of controversial broadcasting, agriculture bills
President Lee Jae Myung, center, speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Seoul, Monday, for the annual Ulchi civil defense exercise aimed at training for national emergency situations. Yonhap
President Lee Jae Myung on Monday approved the promulgation of controversial bills once vetoed by former President Yoon Suk Yeol, including a broadcasting bill that would revamp public broadcaster governance and a grain bill mandating government intervention to stabilize rice prices.
The amendment to the Broadcasting Act, led by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, was part of three contentious broadcasting bills aimed at reforming the governance structure of the nation's public broadcast media by weakening the government and the National Assembly's power to name board directors.
The revised Broadcasting Act calls for the formation of a committee consisting of more than 100 people to recommend candidates to the board for KBS, MBC and EBS. Under the revision, the board of directors at KBS will be expanded from 11 to 15 members.
Most provisions will take effect immediately upon promulgation, requiring KBS and other broadcasters to replace their leadership within three months.
The rival parties have clashed over the legislation, with the main opposition People Power Party arguing that the bill will only increase the presence of progressive figures on the boards of public broadcasters.
Lee signed off on the broadcasting act, along with 14 other bills, during a Cabinet meeting earlier in the day.
Among the approved was another controversial measure, the Grain Management Act, which obliges the government to purchase surplus rice to stabilize prices during market fluctuations.
Lee also approved a revision to the Act on Distribution and Price Stabilization of Agricultural and Fishery Products. Under the law, the central and local governments are required to establish supply plans and to compensate farmers if prices for crops fall below a certain benchmark.
The two bills will take effect one year after promulgation.