ed Regulator’s resignation

Time to reform Korea Communications Commission

Choi See-joong, the nation’s top communications regulator, should have resigned much earlier than last week following a series of policy failures. The cause of his stepping down was attributable to a bribery scandal allegedly involving an aide of his. But he had already faced mounting calls for his resignation from opposition lawmakers and liberal activists.

Choi, 74, is one of President Lee Myung-bak’s closest confidants. But he was not deemed the right figure to lead the Korea Communications Commission (KCC). Serving as Lee’s henchman since his 2008 inauguration, Choi has undertaken a set of misguided policies to tighten the government’s control on the media to raise conservative voices.

A typical example was a controversial media bill that was passed into law in July in 2009. It allows the cross-ownership of newspapers and broadcasters. Last year, the KCC approved the debut of four cable television channels set up by the nation’s four major conservative dailies ― Chosun, JoongAng, Dong-A and Maeil Business Newspaper.

In every respect, the approval was aimed at helping the conservative media increase their influence on Korean society. No one can deny that the government wants to manipulate public opinions through the newspapers and their broadcasting networks.

Choi and other officials have claimed that the cross-ownership and the creation of more broadcasting stations are designed to promote the competitiveness of the media industry. However, this policy could drive many smaller newspapers and provincial broadcasters out of business, stifling diverse opinions in our society.

The policy has only been intensifying fiercer competition at a time when the advertising market has already reached saturation point. Unchecked competition is feared to bring about a self-destruction of the entire media industry. The public nature of the media might disappear, driven by the dreary law of survival of the fittest.

Under the leadership of Choi, the KCC has also failed to promote the development of the local telecom industry. It has done a poor job of integrating telecommunications and broadcasting. It is no exaggeration to say the KCC has ceased to function as a regulatory mechanism.

Choi’s departure should serve as an opportunity to reform the commission by redefining its role and recruiting experts who can set better policies in the information age. For this, President Lee needs to appoint a better qualified figure as the next KCC chief. We hope Choi is Lee’s last henchman to lead any regulatory body, ministry or other government agency. We also urge a thorough investigation of Choi to confirm allegations about his implications in the bribery scandal.