The Foundation of Broadcast Culture

The Foundation for Broadcast Culture(방송문화진흥회), is the only institution dedicated to the promotion of broadcasting in South Korea. Partly to address concerns following the country's 1987 democratic reforms, the National Assembly established the Foundation for Broadcast Culture to insulate MBC from political influence and KBS. The foundation was established as a not-for-profit statutory corporation in accordance with "The Foundation for Broadcast Culture" Act (Ordinance No. 6137) first formulated on December 26, 1988. It is a major shareholder of MBC (Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation) to which 70% of the stocks of MBC was donated as "the initial fund for the promotion of broadcasting culture" from the government. Except for the corporate structure, the concept of the foundation is similar to Channel 4 Television Corporation in the United Kingdom (formerly a subsidiary of the British IBA).