Criticism has emerged that regional cable TV performs a public role similar to regional terrestrial broadcasters but is excluded from government support while bearing a relatively heavy burden from the Broadcasting and Communications Development Fund. The Broadcasting Media Communications Commission said it would improve institutional imbalances among broadcasters through steps including enacting a unified media law.

People Power Party lawmaker Seo Cheon-ho (서천호) raised the issue of fairness in support and regulation between regional cable TV and regional commercial broadcasters at an audit of the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee on Oct. 12.

Seo said regional cable TV and regional commercial broadcasters play similar roles in areas such as local news and disaster broadcasting, but differ in whether they receive government budget support.

He stressed that the system should be improved, saying cable TV, which does not receive government support, has a higher burden rate for the fund.

Seo said, "There is not much difference between regional cable TV and regional commercial broadcasting. There is not much difference in news content or local disaster broadcasting." He added, "But on government budgets, one side can be supported and one side cannot be supported."

He added, "If you look at the burden rate for the Broadcasting Development Fund, cable TV, which has no government support, has a higher burden rate," calling it "reverse discrimination."

The explanation was that while the broadcasting environment has expanded from being centred on terrestrial broadcasting to include cable TV and online video services (OTT), related laws and systems do not adequately reflect these changes.

Kim Jong-cheol (김종철), chair of the Broadcasting Media Communications Commission, replied, "I fully sympathise with the awareness of the issue raised by the member," adding, "To resolve these parts, we are comprehensively preparing legislative efforts such as enacting a unified media law."