The biggest problem with the way in which is the Korean broadcast media has been covering this impeachment situation is that it has revealed the extent to which the nation’s airwaves -- which are state property and owned by the people -- can lose their public function and be used according to the broadcasting companies’ or company directors’ political inclinations. If this nation is faced with a serious national security problem and the nation’s airwaves are monitored in the way in which they are being monitored now, the fundamental structure of our nation could be shaken.

The nation’s broadcasting laws clearly state that the airwaves must be used to promote the public welfare. In particular, three major stations - KBS, MBC, and SBS, monopolize broadcast TV. The nation allots frequencies and permits them radio stations on the principle that they will promote the public interest, regardless of whether they are publicly or privately owned. If a particular broadcast company goes completely against the duty to remain politically neutral - a duty that is at the core of public interest - and begins behaving like a spokesperson for any one particular political faction, then we must reconsider the propriety of giving that company a permit, and accordingly, it would be fitting to return its airwaves to their original owners, the people.

Korea’s broadcast media has a shameful history - the minute a new administration takes power, the media becomes that administration’s media. This was the case not only under the military dictatorships, but also under Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung. In this current political situation, however, we cannot help but to re-examine our broadcast system. This is because in the case of a national emergency like a radical change in South-North relations, if such media behavior repeats itself, the reality is that it just might serve a decisive blow to our nation’s direction and security.

The object of the broadcast law stresses the protection of the rights and interests of the audience and democratic opinion making, while Article V of that law stresses “public responsibility,” and Article VI, “impartiality and public interest. The broadcast deliberation provision stipulates “broadcasting must contribute to the actualizing of social unity” (Article VIII, clause 1) and “when dealing with points of social contention, broadcasts must reflect an equilibrium in reporting the views of concerned parties, and it mustn’t be inclined to any particular political party or faction” (Article IX, clause 2).

Yet in respect to reports on this impeachment, those stipulations have been ignored from the very beginning. Rather than social unity, they’ve been promoting national division. Or to state the case more precisely, broadcasters have been nakedly revealing their intention to impede the constitutional process in dealing with the impeachment issue with broadcasts that seem to be urging the “masses” to riot.

The Korea Broadcasting Commission, which watched this situation with arms folded for the last couple of days, deliberated yesterday on possible sanctions, yet was unable to make a decision. Under the current system, however, even if the KBC does reach a decision, it could be likened to a doctor who arrives after the patient has already expired, and the commission cannot escape from the scope of its powers, which are hazily defined and do not really amount to much.

In particular, if state-owned KBS is going to stand more for the Roh administration than it is for the citizens who own it, there is no reason for those very citizens to pay television subscription fees. If it’s going to be that kind of station, it would be more fitting for it to be run on a particular political party’s expenditures than on the citizens’ taxes or subscription fees. The realities of our broadcasting system are such that not only has the formal trappings of “publicly operated” lost its meaning, but it doesn’t even fool the people. With this in mind, it would be less shameful just to be frank about the whole thing and return to calling it “state operated.”

It has been confirmed as a matter-of-fact that in a national emergency, our careless use of broadcasting, with little to curb it, and poor control of the airwaves - all of which has been revealed by this current situation - can be the catalyst that brings about national disaster. Based on this, the entire society must completely reconsider the problems of our broadcasting system, and adopt as a national project plans for stabilization mechanisms in preparation for the dangers that such a system can bring.