This study examines public accountability of terrestrial broadcasters, especially KBS, MBC and SBS, in Korea, Public accountability understand a new role for public broadcasters in context of changing media environment, and is responsibility in return for the privilege of public channels. Theoretically there is close relationship between public accountability and public interest, which based on the public broadcasting system in tradition. Public accountability is a response to public ownership, public funds and public channel, and therefore includes not only public program service, public control system and active service for the audience. In practice, it can not be given to all free channels the same accountability, but different. For example, KBS has very strict public accountability, because it is based on public characteristics for ownership, financing and free channel. On the other hand belongs to the public accountability SBSs basically public service for audience included public program service. But it is very impotent for all public channels to survive in the future.

• 김진웅(선문대학교 언론광고학부 교수) | Jin-Woong Kim