Ahn Cheol-soo Calls Ruling Party's 'Portal Algorithm Disclosure Bill' "Childish and Anti-Democratic"

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 3rd and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Geum Bo-ryeong] As the ruling party announced a bill to create an organization to manage and supervise the article arrangement algorithms of portal sites, Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, criticized it as "childish and anti-democratic."

On the 9th, Ahn stated on Facebook, "I am at a loss for words that such a childish and utterly anti-democratic idea could even be conceived."

Kim Nam-guk, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, introduced a revision bill to the Press Act that allows a government committee to review the article arrangement criteria of portal sites. This is the so-called "Portal Algorithm Disclosure Act." It includes establishing a "News Portal User Committee" consisting of nine members under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which can request corrections regarding the policies and article arrangement criteria of internet news service providers.

In response, Ahn said, "If this bill passes, the government will be able to directly decide the placement of articles praising President Moon Jae-in in the most visible positions on portals," adding, "It reminds me of the 'press guidelines' during the Chun Doo-hwan regime."

Ahn also pointed out, "Not only are there forces like the Druking group manipulating public opinion, but if the media is also controlled, it is clear they are harboring the absurd delusion that they can maintain long-term rule forever," and warned, "If the anti-democratic delusionists in the Democratic Party who dream of long-term rule pass this bill, reasonable and rational citizens will not just stand by and watch."

He continued, "The shabby and ridiculous defeat of anti-democrats will be recorded in a page of history like this," saying, "'The ruling forces that tried to regress democracy were thoroughly abandoned by the people.'"