Broadcasters using mainly foreign products: lawmaker

SEOUL (Yonhap) - The majority of South Korean broadcast companies use high-priced foreign-produced equipment because the government has been slow to implement policies to encourage the purchase of local products, a lawmaker said Thursday.
According to a Korea Communications Commission (KCC) document submitted to Rep. Lee Chul-woo of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) ahead of the parliamentary audit, public-run Korea Broadcasting System relied for 75.1 percent of its equipments on foreign brands, with Munwha Broadcasting Corporation topping that at 85.9 percent. The private Seoul Broadcasting System relies on foreign-made products for 67.5 percent of its equipment needs.
Lee criticized the Ministry of Knowledge and Economy and the KCC for not doing enough to help the local broadcast equipment sector. He said proper and timely budgetary support when Seoul approved the setting up of new cable channels that will start broadcasting late this year could have given local companies a chance to sell more of their products.
He said that out of a state budget of 281.5 billion won (US$240 million) for broadcast equipment, only 14 percent was spent locally, the GNP lawmaker said.
Late last year, the KCC announced five winners of new general programming and all-news cable television licenses, who will provide a wide range of programs, ranging from entertainment through news and documentaries.
Lee called for a push in policy or incentives to encourage broadcasting firms to buy more equipment made by local brands.