Conflict Between Ruling and Opposition Parties Over TBS Board Audit Request
Ruling Party Submits Request to Convene June Bill Subcommittee 2
[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] "Does the People Power Party not hear the voices of the people begging to be saved, asking for help?"
Amid conflicting views between ruling and opposition party members of the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Communications Committee regarding the submission of a proposal to request an audit of TBS by the Board of Audit and Inspection, the Democratic Party of Korea issued a statement on the 21st expressing its intention to push forward with the June Information and Communications Broadcasting Act Review Subcommittee (Bill Subcommittee 2) meeting.
Cho Seung-rae, the ruling party's floor leader and a member of the Democratic Party, stated in the statement, "The Bill Subcommittee 2, chaired by the opposition party's floor leader, has nullified the agreed-upon schedule," and demanded the normal convening of Bill Subcommittee 2.
The National Assembly's Science and Technology Information and Broadcasting Committee is at a standstill due to repeated conflicts between the ruling and opposition parties over the submission of the TBS audit proposal. On the 16th, People Power Party members entered holding protest placards. They also expressed their opposition to the ruling party's refusal to submit the proposal by walking out midway through the plenary session.
Cho Seung-rae argued, "The National Assembly's request for a TBS audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection has no authority, reason, or justification," adding, "As floor leader Park Sung-joong admitted, even Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon refused the TBS audit."
He continued, "If the broadcast content is unfair, the issue should be reported to the Broadcast Communications Commission, but even this has not been possible for five months due to the opposition party's lack of sincerity and irresponsible behavior," pointing out, "The People Power Party's political offensive to influence broadcasts and control broadcasting companies has only trapped innocent ICT and broadcasting issues in a quagmire."
A representative example is the so-called 'Google Gapjil Prevention Act' (Amendment to the Telecommunications Business Act), which prevents Google's in-app payment system. Starting in the second half of this year, Google plans to mandate its own payment system for app developers on Google Play selling content, charging a 30% commission in the process. Domestic content developers and startup officials have expressed difficulties. The publishing industry expects e-book prices to increase by up to 40% if in-app payments are enforced.
The Basic Data Act is also pending. Cho Seung-rae said, "It is an important foundational law for advancing as a leading country in digital transformation and the data economy," adding, "The opposition party has proposed two bills and resolved issues, but meetings have not been held, leaving us waiting endlessly."
He said, "The Democratic Party demands the convening of the bill subcommittee according to the June schedule originally agreed upon by the ruling and opposition floor leaders," and added, "Chairman Park Sung-joong should stop refusing meetings and responsibly hold the bill subcommittee." A request to convene Bill Subcommittee 2 was submitted in accordance with Article 52 of the National Assembly Act.
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