Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), known as the Cultural Broadcasting Corporation, is a popular television and radio network in South Korea that runs MBC TV channels and three radio stations as well as a slew of local broadcasters.
Media assets
Television: MBC TV
Radio: MBC Standard FM, MBC FM4U, Channel M
State Media Matrix Typology: Independent Public (IP)
Ownership and governance
MBC is a public broadcaster majority owned by a public organization, the Foundation for Broadcast Culture (FBC), with 70% of the shares. The Foundation was established by the South Korean National Assembly in 1988 specifically to ensure the independence of MBC. This structure is similar to how Channel 4 TV in the UK is run (MBC is said to have followed that model).
FBC evaluates the work of the MBC’s Management and appoints the station’s CEO. The FBC Board has nine directors who are all appointed by the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), the media regulator in South Korea.
Source of funding and budget
MBC is fully funded from advertising revenues. In 2020, it reported total income of KRW 697.1bn (nearly US$ 581m). In 2021, the company pulled in revenues of around KRW 780bn (US$ 663m), according to data provided by a director at the company.
Editorial independence
There are no rules forcing MBC to editorially favor the state authorities and there is no evidence that the editorial line at MBC is indirectly controlled by the South Korean government.
The model of governance in place at MBC is designed with the goal of ensuring the editorial independence of the station.
The MBC has introduced in recent years several mechanisms to ensure more accountability to its public. Citizens, for example, were actively involved in the appointment of the current president of MBC (similar to an electoral campaign). MBC also runs Viewers Advisory, a platform that allows citizens to make any complaints or request changes in programming in line with the Broadcast Rulebook, a document that guides MBC’s staff in their work; and the Viewers Committee, a commission of citizen representatives that discusses and criticizes the programming of MBC as well as the station’s policies and identity. The committee is composed of academics, trade union representatives, journalists and activists. Finally, MBC has a Viewers Autonomous Committee that handles complaints from citizens regarding specific MBC programs that they feel are offensive or damage them in any way.
October 2023