[2022 National Audit] Current Issues Put Aside... Yoon President's Remarks Turned the Korea Communications Commission Audit into a 'Listening Evaluation' Session

Hansanghyuk, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, attended the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee's audit of the Korea Communications Commission held on the 5th, and is reporting on his duties. Photo by Yoon Dongju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] The National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee's audit of the Korea Communications Commission held on the 6th saw only political disputes between the ruling and opposition parties, with no discussion on major issues such as the 'In-App Payment Mandatory Prohibition Act.' At the audit site that day, debates between the ruling and opposition parties continued over President Yoon Seok-yeol's use of profanity and the resignation of Broadcasting and Communications Commissioner Han Sang-hyuk.

From the beginning of the audit, the ruling and opposition parties clashed over coverage of the president's overseas visits. Park Chan-dae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, played videos of President Yoon, turning the audit into an unexpected 'listening test.' Park played the pronunciation of 'nal' in the phrase "nuclear missiles flying" during the presidential election and the 'ba' in "President Biden" after his return. He then released a recording of President Yoon's voice as he left the Global Fund financing pledge meeting in New York on the 21st of last month, pointing out, "No matter how many times I listen, it sounds like 'Biden,' not 'nallimyeon' (if it flies)." Park also claimed, "Looking at the official document the Blue House sent to MBC, it is aggressive to the point that it raises suspicions that the Presidential Office is censoring the media," adding, "They are issuing reporting guidelines to all reporters and media outlets, effectively issuing warnings."

Ruling party lawmakers countered by calling MBC's reporting behavior "harmful to national interests." They also urged the Korea Communications Standards Commission to promptly review the subtitles on MBC Newsdesk, which they claimed were false. Additionally, lawmaker Kim Young-sik said, "Broadcasting should conduct accurate and complete investigative reporting considering its social impact, but MBC went beyond negligence and engaged in acts that defamed the democratically elected president and harmed national interests."

The confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties intensified over whether Commissioner Han Sang-hyuk should resign. When Park Sung-joong of the People Power Party asked, "If your philosophy does not align with the president's, do you think you should step down? Are there no such cases among predecessors?" Commissioner Han replied, "Personally, I think it is reasonable for terms to overlap." Park then demanded his resignation, saying, "Seeing you hold on without stepping down is pitiful and lamentable." Democratic Party Commissioner Go Min-jung responded to Park's question by saying, "Independence is a value like life itself, and it is not right to step down just because your philosophy does or does not align with the president's," adding, "We must strongly protest against things that are not just words but stories." Park immediately retorted, "Not just words? Apologize," leading to loud exchanges between the ruling and opposition parties. Commissioner Han's term lasts until July next year.