SEOUL — American movies take a lion’s share in the total number of foreign movies aired by Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) this year, according to a lawmaker with the ruling Millennium Democratic Party.
"The ratio of American films out of the total foreign films aired by the MBC is drastically on the rise," said Rep. Lee Mi-kyung during an Assembly inspection on the Foundation for Broadcast Culture (FBC).
"In 1999, the broadcasting firm aired 99 American films out of 140 foreign movies, accounting for 71 percent, but the ratio of American films jumped to 80.5 percent with 58 out of 72 foreign movies."
Lee asked the FBC whether it has any plans to have the MBC increase the ratio of Asian and European films when airing foreign movies, saying the dominance of American films could undermine cultural diversity.
Lee said that MBC has to reconsider reducing entertainment programs for the youths.
"MBC topped the list among the three broadcasting firms in airing programs which contain slang and indecent languages," said Lee, calling on the FBC to present counter measures against such programs.