Ruling party shapes up Lee's media overhaul

SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak's conservative party laid
concrete plans for sweeping media reforms Wednesday, under which newspapers will
be given a green light to gain ownership of television networks.
Since his inauguration in February, Lee, a former CEO and strong believer in
market principles, signaled sweeping deregulation of media laws that have so far
prevented a small number of firms from dominating the media.
Under Lee's plan, a single firm will be allowed to own a daily newspaper as well
as cable and online news channels, scrapping the current law which prohibits
cross-ownership of print media and television stations.
The plan has triggered strong concerns here as only three right-leaning
vernacular newspapers, already controlling nearly 70 percent of print media
circulation, are said to have enough resources to enter into the television
industry.
The three newspapers, the Chosun Ilbo, Joongang Ilbo and Donga Ilbo, are
President Lee's biggest supporters, eager for the chance to extend their
dominance in print to television.
Under the ruling Grand National Party (GNP)'s plans announced Wednesday,
companies will be allowed to take stakes of up to 20 and 49 percent in
terrestrial and cable channels respectively.
The party believes allowing cross-ownership of print and television is a global
trend which will help South Korea adapt to enhanced media technologies.
"We focused on reforming old and ill-balanced regulations," Chung Byung-kook,
chairman of the GNP's media reform committee, told reporters. "The media
environment is changing rapidly and it's time for us to adapt to the changes."
The conservative party has also mapped out tougher punishment for people who
insult others or spread false rumors on the Internet, who will be facing up to 2
years of imprisonment or 10 million won (US$6,800) in fines.
Portal services that provide selected news on their pages will be classified as
"Internet news services" under the GNP's plan, which will bind them to stricter
obligations concerning the objectivity and the validity of the news they carry.
The decision is likely to fuel further disputes in coming weeks as opposition
parties and media unionists continue to accuse Lee of attempting to tame and
control the media.
Lee came under fire in August when he sacked the head of public broadcaster KBS
and named Lee Byung-soon, believed to be favorable to the conservative
administration, as the new chief.
Former KBS President Jung Yun-joo, an ex-newspaper journalist and an outspoken
critic of the Lee government, was appointed to the post for two consecutive terms
by ex-President Roh Moo-hyun.
Lee dismissed Jung on mismanagement and breach of trust, but many believe the
ousting of Jung removed one of the biggest hurdles to the president's plan to
privatize state-run television channels.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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