By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology is considering sharply reducing the budget for the state-supported Educational Broadcasting System (EBS).
According to the ministry, the Board of Audit and Inspection recently recommended the budget reduction.
The state auditor pointed out it was undesirable to finance EBS as the education channel gains enough income from sales of its textbooks, but the government has unnecessarily supported the TV channel.
If the budget is cut, EBS is likely to slash programming. So far, the government has encouraged students to study via EBS programs in order to reduce private education costs; hence, it will be a controversial issue.
``If we stop funding EBS, it will broadcast fewer programs dealing with college admission tests and we are considering reducing its budget,'' a government official was quoted as saying. ``EBS has to prepare measures to stand without government funding.''
The educational TV station has received 13 billion won ($10 million) annually in subsidies since 2004. EBS depends on KBS TV subscription fees for 30 percent of its annual budget and income from its own business for the remainder.