Digital TV broadcasting services will fully replace the current analogue TV system in Korea by 2012. Minister of Information and Communication Roh Jun-hyong and Korean Broadcasting Commission Chairman Cho Chang-hyun said Thursday that they put together a special bill that would require full digitalization of terrestrial TV at the third meeting of the commission's Digital Broadcasting Promotion Committee.

The digital broadcasting committee aims to finalize the bill this year after it wins a green light from the National Assembly. The bill requires broadcasters to halt their analogue TV signals by December 31, 2012. The law would also require all new TV-related home appliances to incorporate "digital tuners," or equipment for digital reception.

(englishnews@chosun.com )