Resignation Submitted in One Day... Measure to Prevent KCC Function Suspension
Only 3 Months After Inauguration... If Yoon Accepts Resignation, Impeachment Becomes Meaningless
Democratic Party Immediately Opposes, "Impeachment Evasion Tactic... Obstruction of National Assembly Procedures"
Lee Dong-kwan, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, abruptly tendered his resignation on the 1st. This move came as the Democratic Party of Korea was set to process an impeachment motion against him in the National Assembly plenary session on the same day, effectively aiming to prevent the suspension of the Commission's functions. It is reported that President Yoon Seok-yeol is currently deliberating whether to accept the resignation.
Chairman Lee announced his resignation ahead of the National Assembly's handling of the impeachment motion against him. It is reported that he expressed his intention to voluntarily resign to President Yoon late the previous day. Chairman Lee is said to have decided to step down due to recent disruptions in key duties and concerns that if the impeachment motion passes, the Commission's work would be paralyzed for several months due to suspension from duty. Upon arriving at the Korea Communications Commission's Gwacheon office on the day, he elaborated, "I told the President because I was worried about the work gap or such situations at the Commission due to the impeachment, which seemed to be a burden."
On the 1st, when the parliamentary vote on the impeachment motion against Lee Dong-kwan, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, was scheduled, the Chairman attended the emergency Cabinet meeting held at the Seoul Government Complex. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@
Chairman Lee's resignation comes about three months after his appointment in August. A former journalist, Lee has faced criticism from opposition parties for allegedly leading media control during the Lee Myung-bak administration. He established the 'Fake News Eradication Task Force' to tackle fake news in the broadcasting and telecommunications sectors. He viewed certain media outlets as the source of fake news, which was then amplified and reproduced through portals, YouTube, and broadcasting companies.
In September, the government launched an on-site investigation into whether Naver artificially intervened in its news search service. The aim was to analyze news algorithms to see if biased services were provided to specific media outlets. Chairman Lee also conducted comprehensive activities such as inspecting the management of personal location information by taxi-hailing platform operators like Kakao Mobility. Recently, ahead of the National Assembly's impeachment vote, he decided to withhold approval for the change of major shareholders of news channels Yonhap News TV and YTN.
If President Yoon accepts the resignation, the impeachment target will disappear, rendering the National Assembly's impeachment motion meaningless. There is also a possibility that the Korea Communications Commission, currently operating with Chairman Lee and Commissioner Lee Sang-in, could avoid the suspension of functions caused by the passage of the impeachment motion. If the impeachment motion is passed, the Commission's work could be suspended for up to 180 days until the Constitutional Court's ruling.
The Democratic Party of Korea has defined Chairman Lee's resignation as an obstruction to the National Assembly's impeachment process and demanded that President Yoon not accept the resignation. Hong Ik-pyo, the Democratic Party floor leader, said at the Supreme Council meeting, "Chairman Lee's resignation is a trick to evade impeachment," and added, "If the President accepts it, it will be a clear act of obstruction against the constitutional procedure currently underway in the National Assembly. Therefore, the President should not accept Chairman Lee's resignation and allow the National Assembly's impeachment process to be completed."
Regardless of Chairman Lee, the impeachment procedures for prosecutors Son Jun-sung and Lee Jeong-seop are expected to proceed in the afternoon plenary session. Previously, the Democratic Party had submitted impeachment motions against prosecutors Son and Lee as well as Chairman Lee. Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, predicted, "If only the Communications Commission Chairman is impeached among the agenda items, there might be changes, but since there are also impeachment motions for the prosecutors, the situation will not change."
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