Holding Confirmation Hearing for Broadcasting Commission Chairman Candidate
Emphasizing Fairness and Responsibility of Public Broadcasting and Portals
Expressing Willingness to Improve Laws and Systems for New Industries
Lee Dong-gwan, the nominee for chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, emphasized the social responsibility of public broadcasting and portals during the confirmation hearing on the 18th. He also expressed his determination to protect users from fake news and improve policies in the digital new industry sector.
During his opening remarks at the confirmation hearing held by the National Assembly’s Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee, Lee stated his intention to revise related laws and systems to fit the broadcasting, communications, and media environment.
Lee Dong-kwan, nominee for Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, is speaking at the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly on the 18th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@
He began by saying, "In the rapidly changing broadcasting, communications, and media environment, I will actively pursue the following tasks so that the Republic of Korea can leap forward as a global media powerhouse and broadcasting, communications, and media can gain the trust and love of the people."
First, he said, "Since the establishment of the Korea Communications Commission in 2008, with the launch of IPTV and the approval of comprehensive programming channels and news PP, a new competitive system has been introduced, but related laws and systems have not kept pace with the changes of the times for 15 years," adding, "I will innovate broadcasting regulations and establish a new regulatory system for the sustainable growth of digital and media."
Lee stated, "I will redefine the fairness and public nature of digital and media," and added, "I will ensure transparency and objectivity in the management of resources befitting the name of public broadcasting and support it to fulfill greater social responsibility as a public broadcaster."
He said, "Now, most information, including news, is provided through portals," and added, "Reflecting this situation, I will prepare legal and institutional improvement measures to enhance reliability and transparency."
Regarding this, he said, "Portals themselves must also fulfill their social responsibility," and expressed his determination to "strengthen user protection from illegal information such as fake news spreading through digital and media."
He also said, "There is a growing need to strengthen user protection from new types of harm such as the spread of fake news and bias in portal algorithms."
Finally, he said, "The reality is that laws and systems in the digital new industry sectors such as digital platforms, artificial intelligence, and metaverse are not keeping up," adding, "While preserving autonomy and innovation, I will pursue balanced policies to ensure that users’ rights and interests are not infringed."
Meanwhile, on the same day, the ruling and opposition parties are expected to clash over allegations surrounding Lee, including involvement in media control and his child’s school violence, during the hearing.
The Democratic Party of Korea has criticized Lee as an inappropriate nominee, claiming that he led media control while serving as spokesperson and public relations secretary at the Blue House during the Lee Myung-bak administration and exerted pressure on schools to cover up his child’s school violence incident.
The People Power Party has emphasized that the allegations raised by the opposition are political attacks and that there are no disqualifying reasons for his dismissal, asserting that he is the right person to normalize public broadcasting.
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