Lee Jun-seok on Ruling Party's Forced Passage of Media Arbitration Act: "Contrary to Roh Moo-hyun's Spirit"

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, is giving a greeting at the 'Meaningful Stories with Lee Jun-seok and International Students' meeting held on the morning of the 28th at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, criticized the Democratic Party of Korea's forcible passage of the Media Arbitration Act, saying it "contradicts the spirit of Roh Moo-hyun."

After a meeting with overseas students held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 28th, Lee told reporters, "I want to ask the mainstream faction called the pro-Moon Jae-in faction of the Democratic Party," expressing this view.

He said, "Former President Roh Moo-hyun pursued a policy of media diversity with the intention that the public would choose by establishing multiple internet media outlets or new media companies," adding, "I believe a media verification system based on diversity was established."

He continued, referring to the Democratic Party that passed the Media Arbitration Act, "Those who claim to be successors of Roh Moo-hyun are trying to lower the freedom of media coverage and create a rigid media environment," and pointed out, "I think we should not abandon principles just because it is inconvenient."

The Democratic Party aims to finalize the bill through the full meeting of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and the plenary session within August. The People Power Party plans to delay the bill's passage by forming a coordination committee or other means. Kang Min-guk, the floor spokesperson for the People Power Party, released a statement that day saying, "The Media Arbitration Act, which passed the subcommittee of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee yesterday, is an excessive double punishment that suppresses the critical function," and maintained the position that "the Democratic Party's legislative rampage must stop immediately."