[사진=KBS 제공]
While KBS is claiming an increase in the license fee, which has been frozen for 40 years, it is pointed out that the request for a license fee increase is not appropriate. This is because the actual license fee income has increased over the past 10 years. Public opinion is also negative about the license fee hike.
According to Park Seong-jung, a member of the National Power of the National Assembly’s Science and Technology Information Broadcasting and Communication Committee, on the 14th, the subscription fee paid by the public last year amounted to 679 billion 24 million won. Compared to 578 billion won in 2011, 10 years ago, it jumped more than 101.1 billion won. It has increased to 10 billion won every year.
Of these, about 91% goes back to KBS. Last year, it collected about 6142 billion won. It increased from 5226 billion won in 2011 to 91.6 billion won over 10 years. It is interpreted to have increased by 9.1 billion won each year.
It is said that the license fee has been frozen at 2,500 won per month for the 40th year since 1981, but as the total number of households increases as the number of households for one or two increases, the actual amount paid to KBS is increasing day by day. In the last 10 years, the number of households subject to license fees has increased from 16.34 million in 2011 to 19.4 million last year. This increase in single- and double-person households is expected to continue. According to a report from the National Statistical Office in 2019, the number of domestic households is expected to increase to 22.65 million by 2040. Automatically, KBS’s income is also expected to increase over the next 20 years.
Currently, households with TV at home are obligated to pay a subscription fee regardless of whether they actually watch KBS. This is because KEPCO imposes a license fee of 2,500 won on household electricity bills.
Rep. Park Seong-joong said, “Even though the number of households increased and the license fee income increased by 100 billion won, KBS is mocking the public as if the license fee has not increased. First,” he emphasized.
KBS is pushing for a license fee increase from 2500 won per month to 3840 won. On the 27th of last month, a mediation plan containing these details was presented to the board of directors. This month, we plan to conduct public opinion polls and public hearings to initiate discussion.
Public opinion is worsening as it is revealed that the billion-dollar annual salary in KBS reaches 46.4% of the total employees, and the number of unemployed employees with a billion-dollar annual salary is about 1,500. Earlier this month, a user who is supposed to be a KBS employee in the anonymous community’Blind’ posted a comment saying, “No matter what you say, our company is guaranteed to have retirement age. Don’t swear by employees, become competent, and if you have an opportunity,” bought
On the 10th, Media Research surveyed 503 men and women over the age of 18 nationwide and announced that only 7.1% of respondents said that KBS license fees should be increased. Rather, the opinion on the abolition of the license fee was the most at 44.2%. The current level was maintained at 32%, and the license fee cut was 15.6%.
Meanwhile, EBS, which shares a certain portion of the license fee, is not comfortable with public opinion on KBS. This is because EBS’s share of the 2,500 won KBS license fee is only 70 won. Although it is said that it makes profits from selling textbooks, it is known that EBS’s textbook margin is only about half of that of general publishers. The situation is also decreasing every year due to a decrease in the school-age population and changes in education policies. Even if KBS’s proposal is passed and 1,340 won rises, EBS’s share is only 120 won.