South Korea's Broadcasting Media Communications Commission will newly reflect broadcasters' fact-checking and efforts to prevent false reporting, and their record of improving working conditions for non-regular workers, in broadcast evaluations.

The commission said on Sept. 16 it reported an amendment to its rules on broadcast evaluation at its 35th plenary meeting to strengthen broadcasters' public responsibility and improve the effectiveness and fairness of evaluations.

The amendment is set to apply from evaluations of 2027 broadcast performance.

It will first specify evaluation criteria for operating internal bodies related to broadcasters' fairness. It will assess the number of meetings held, whether responsible officials attend, whether outcomes are disclosed internally and whether decisions are implemented.

Evaluations will also reflect whether broadcasters conducted surveys of viewers' perceptions of fairness in their own programmes or channels.

A new evaluation item will award up to 10 bonus points for efforts to prevent false reporting through fact-checking. It will assess whether a fact-checking system and a false-reporting reporting system are operated, whether related guidelines are disclosed and what they contain, and whether follow-up actions are carried out after false reports occur.

A new 10-point evaluation item will also be created for efforts to improve working conditions for non-regular workers. It will assess whether systems are operated to support consultation and handling of grievances for non-regular workers, results in converting them to regular employees, and the ratio of non-regular workers.

The evaluation method for scheduling programmes that implement regionality on regional terrestrial TV will also be improved. It will specify that an absolute evaluation be used based on the share of regionality-implementation programmes in total broadcast time, under standards for KBS1 regional headquarters, regional MBC and regional private broadcasters.

The method of evaluating the "preliminary pointing-out ratio" through broadcasters' own deliberation will be changed to an evaluation of the "number of omitted preliminary pointing-out cases". The measure is intended to address that operators with fewer deliberation sanctions could be disadvantaged in evaluations.

Criteria for evaluating programme awards will also be specified in terms of the awarding institution and award grade, the award's history and the evaluation period.

The commission plans to begin a public administrative notice on the amendment from this month and to refine detailed criteria for broadcast evaluations and methods of submitting materials by year-end.

Kim Jong-chul (김종철), chair of the commission, said he expects the revision to encourage broadcasters to fulfil their public responsibility, including efforts to improve fairness and objectivity, and to raise the effectiveness and fairness of broadcast evaluations.