The National Assembly has passed a controversial broadcasting bill that is set to reform the governance structure of the public broadcaster MBC, with the ruling Democratic Party leading its passage despite fierce opposition from the People Power Party.

The amendments to the Broadcasting Act were passed Thursday in the plenary session with 169 lawmakers in favor, one against and one abstention out of 171 lawmakers present.

People Power Party lawmakers walked out of the parliamentary chamber in protest. 

It is one of three contentious broadcasting bills aimed at reforming the governance structure of the nation’s public broadcasters, KBS, MBC and EBS.

Under the revised Broadcasting Act, the board of directors at MBC will be expanded from nine to 13 members and the bodies responsible for recommending board members will be diversified.