KBS President Kim Eui-cheol threatens resignation over separate license fee collection

KBS President Kim Eui-cheol announced on the 8th that he would step down as president if the presidential office withdraws the introduction of separate license fee collection. Regarding this, the President’s office said, “separate collection of license fees and replacement of management are separate issues,” and clarified that there would be no change in the policy, putting more effort into public broadcasting reform.

Regarding President Kim holding a press conference that day and demanding a meeting with President Yoon Seok-yeol, opposing the separate collection of license fees, an official from the Presidential Office said, “What our people want from KBS is a separate collection of viewing fees (licensing fees). In fact, it means not to forcibly collect quasi-taxes,” he said. “In addition, if there is something KBS wants, it is to be fair in broadcasting, especially in the field of reporting, and to not be careless in management.”

At a press conference held earlier this morning at Yeouido KBS Audience Hall, President Kim made an official request to withdraw the separate collection and meet with President Yoon, saying, “If I, who was appointed as president by the previous administration, is a problem, I will resign.” In addition, he openly proposed that the Korea Communications Commission, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and KBS form a consultative body to discuss the method of collecting license fees. President Kim said, “Last year’s license fee income was about 620 billion won, excluding collection costs, but if separate collection is introduced, it will drop sharply to the 100 billion won level.” claimed.

The president’s office expressed displeasure at President Kim’s remarks, which even mentioned his own future. In particular, in the part where President Kim mentioned that he was ‘appointed by the previous administration’, it is pointed out that he is trying to expand this situation into a political issue by defining it as a problem between old and new administrations. A high-ranking official in the presidential office asked back in a phone call with the Seoul Shinmun, “When did the presidential office ever ask for the resignation of KBS executives?”

Reporter Ahn Seok and professional reporter Ahn Dong-hwan