Forced Half Launch of 5th Term Broadcasting Review Committee... People Power Party Also Faces Dilemma (Comprehensive)

Delayed Launch After 6 Months
158,000 Pending Review Cases Accumulated
First Meeting of 7 Committee Members Expected Next Week

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] Seven members of the 5th Broadcasting and Communications Deliberation Committee, including former KBS President Jeong Yeon-ju, who was appointed by President Moon Jae-in, were appointed on the 23rd. Although it started as a half-committee, it is known that the opposition party is also considering recommending the remaining two committee members. The issues accumulated due to the six-month deliberation gap are expected to be gradually resolved.

Only Personnel from the Blue House and Ruling Party Included

The Broadcasting and Communications Deliberation Committee announced that seven members were appointed as the 5th committee members on the 23rd: Kim Yoo-jin, director of the People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy; Ok Si-chan, former director of the Korea Broadcasting Culture Promotion Foundation; Yoon Sung-ok, professor of Media and Video Studies at Kyonggi University; Lee Kwang-bok, former editorial director of Yonhap News Agency; Jeong Min-young, lawyer at Deoksu Law Firm; Jeong Yeon-ju, former president of Konyang University; and Hwang Sung-wook, former standing member of the committee.

As an independent civilian organization, the committee members are appointed by the president, including three recommended by the Speaker of the National Assembly in consultation with the floor leaders of the parliamentary negotiation groups, and three recommended by the relevant standing committee of the National Assembly, according to the "Act on the Establishment and Operation of the Korea Communications Commission."

The members appointed by the president are Kim Yoo-jin, Ok Si-chan, and Jeong Yeon-ju; those appointed by the Speaker of the National Assembly are Lee Kwang-bok, Jeong Min-young, and Hwang Sung-wook. The ruling party member appointed by the National Assembly’s Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee is Yoon Sung-ok. The term of the seven appointed members is three years, from this day until July 22, 2024.

158,000 Pending Deliberation Cases

The committee can now partially perform its functions. Since the term of the 4th committee expired on January 19, the opposition party refused to recommend members, causing a six-month deliberation gap. As of the 18th, the number of pending deliberation cases totals approximately 158,000, including about 142,000 telecommunications cases, 9,000 broadcasting cases, and about 7,000 digital sex crime-related cases, which require early response. There are also many urgent issues such as drugs, fake news, and harmful information.

While the ruling party and the Blue House pushed ahead with appointing committee members, it is known that the opposition party is internally reviewing a plan to recommend members for the 5th committee. Jo Seung-rae, the ruling party’s secretary of the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee, urged the People Power Party to promptly recommend committee members in a statement titled "People Power Party Should Cooperate Sincerely for Normal Operation of the Committee" on the 14th. A National Assembly Science and Technology Information Broadcasting and Communications Committee official hinted, "It is understood that the opposition party is also reviewing a plan to convene a plenary meeting to recommend committee members."

Previously, the opposition party delayed recommending members, expressing concerns about political bias. They clearly stated their intention to recommend members only after the Blue House personnel were disclosed first. Park Sung-joong, the opposition party’s secretary of the committee, said, "There have been reports in various media that the Blue House has designated a highly biased figure like former KBS President Jeong Yeon-ju as the committee chairperson, raising concerns that the fairness of the next committee could be seriously compromised," adding, "It appears to be an attempt to dominate the next committee and put the finishing touch on 'the second Saengta-tang and Ferragamo' ahead of next year’s presidential election."

Meanwhile, the seven appointed members are expected to have their first meeting in the form of a briefing next week. However, since the committee chairperson is elected by the nine members themselves, the chairperson appointment is expected to take place after the opposition party’s recommended members are appointed.