The Legislation and Judiciary Committee Holds Full Meeting Today... Ruling and Opposition Clash Again Over the Press Arbitration Act

Extreme Opposition, Hey, Convene the Assembly

[Asia Economy Reporters Oh Ju-yeon, Geum Bo-ryeong] Ahead of the National Assembly plenary session on the 25th, the ruling and opposition parties' disputes over the Media Arbitration Act are intensifying. The ruling party is firmly determined to pass the bill even if it means doing so unilaterally.

On the 24th, the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee held a plenary meeting to handle the amendment to the Media Arbitration Act, the amendment to the National Assembly Act, the amendment to the Comprehensive Real Estate Holding Tax Act, five education committee bills including the Private School Act, the Medical Service Act amendment, and the Climate Crisis Act. Although it was scheduled to start at 11 a.m., the schedule has been delayed, and it is expected to begin in the afternoon.

Floor Leader Yoon Ho-jung mentioned the National Assembly Act amendment and the Surgical Room CCTV installation law, which passed the standing committee, during the morning floor countermeasure meeting, saying, "We ask the public to join forces for the passage in the plenary session."

Yoo Seung-min, a presidential primary candidate of the People Power Party, is talking with Heo Seong-gwon, chairman of the KBS labor union, who is holding a solo protest against the amendment to the Media Arbitration Act in front of the National Assembly on the 24th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

However, each bill is causing friction with the opposition parties, making it inevitable to face difficulties until passing the final stage of the standing committee, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. Not only the People Power Party but also the Justice Party have joined forces to put brakes on the ruling party's unilateral actions. In particular, the Media Arbitration Act, which will be the last to be discussed in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee plenary meeting, has an unpredictable conclusion time.

The People Power Party is strongly opposing not only the Media Arbitration Act but also other contentious bills. Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader of the People Power Party, has called for a gathering of party members at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee plenary meeting to block the ruling party's forced passage of bills.

The Justice Party is holding a press conference in the afternoon with four media organizations urging the suspension of the forced passage of the Media Arbitration Act, followed by a meeting with seven media organizations to pressure the ruling party. At this event, the Justice Party plans to announce, "The Democratic Party should stop the forced passage and accept the social consensus process," and "The deterioration of the Media Arbitration Act is not media reform."

Opposition presidential candidates are also strongly criticizing the amendment to the Media Arbitration Act day after day. Hong Jun-pyo, a People Power Party lawmaker, stated on Facebook, "If the gag law on the media is forcibly passed, the Democratic Party will be regarded as a party that destroyed media freedom in the next presidential election, and the Democratic Party candidate will suffer a fatal blow," adding, "Stop it now. This is exactly state collapse and state manipulation." Former Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong also pointed out, "Rather honestly make a 'Democratic Party Criticism and Punishment Prohibition Act.' Tell the people you don't want to be criticized or punished even if you are wrong," and said, "The Democratic Party, which puts a gag on the media, putting a gag on the people is only a matter of time." Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min visited the site of the 'Protest to Abolish the Media Arbitration Act Amendment' in front of the National Assembly main gate in the morning to express his opposition.