With "Only Questions on Line Incident"... Opposition: "Broadcasting Review Committee Should Also Question the Korea Communications Commission"

Full Science and ICT Committee Meeting Convened... Final Negotiations Between Ruling and Opposition Parties

Jang Je-won, a member of the People Power Party and chairman of the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee, agreed to the Democratic Party's request to convene the committee for urgent inquiries related to the 'Naver Line incident.' He stated that the committee would be held after the 18th to address the Line incident, but issues such as the Broadcasting and Communications Deliberation Committee's (BCDC) excessive disciplinary actions and the resulting waste of litigation budget by the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) should be handled in the 22nd National Assembly. However, the Democratic Party insists that inquiries into the BCDC and KCC should also be included, causing last-minute difficulties.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 16th, Representative Jang posted on his social media, "The Democratic Party requested the convening of the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee today. They intend to conduct urgent inquiries regarding the Line incident, the BCDC, and the KCC," adding, "I am well aware that the public is very concerned about the Line incident, and although the 21st National Assembly has little time left, I believe it is right to do what must be done."

He continued, "However, I judge that issues such as the Democratic Party's demand concerning the BCDC's excessive disciplinary actions and the resulting waste of litigation budget by the KCC, which relate to budget review and agency operations, should be addressed in the newly formed 22nd National Assembly," and said, "If the ruling and opposition party floor leaders agree to schedule an urgent inquiry on the Line incident as an agenda item for early next week after the May 18th Democratic Movement commemoration ceremony, I will convene the standing committee."

On the 14th, the Democratic Party held a press conference at the National Assembly, urging, "We call on the People Power Party. Before it is too late, let us hold a plenary meeting to discuss urgent public issues such as the Line incident, the BCDC's excessive disciplinary actions, and the KCC's waste of taxpayers' money," and requested the convening of a plenary meeting on the afternoon of the 16th. At the press conference, the Democratic Party pointed out, "The BCDC continues to impose legal sanctions on reports critical of the administration using its deliberation authority, but courts have repeatedly blocked these decisions. It is said they have lost all seven cases against MBC," and added, "The KCC, responsible for the BCDC's disciplinary actions and lawsuits, has already spent 250 million won out of its 310 million won litigation budget this year."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Although Representative Jang agreed to convene the plenary meeting for urgent inquiries into the Line incident, he rejected inquiries related to the BCDC and KCC, making the possibility of convening the plenary meeting uncertain. The Democratic Party still insists that inquiries into the BCDC and KCC should be included in the plenary meeting.

Cho Seung-rae, a Democratic Party member and opposition floor leader of the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee, said in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the same day, "We said that if the agenda we requested is accepted, we will request the convening today, and if not, we will request it again on the 20th or 21st," adding, "If there is an agreement on the agenda, the meeting does not have to be held today. However, the issue remains whether inquiries related to broadcasting can be conducted in the plenary meeting, so we will negotiate in the morning."