The Democratic Party Launches Media Special Committee... Lee Sang-hwi: "Portals Should Not Represent Partisan Interests"

Issues Like News Bias to Be Addressed
Including Electees Kim Jang-gyeom and Park Jun-tae
"Extension of Existing Media Special Committee"

The People Power Party formed a special media committee on the 20th. It is expected to address issues related to media bias and other press-related matters.

The party's Emergency Response Committee held a meeting that morning and approved the launch of the media special committee chaired by Lee Sang-hwi, the elected representative of the People Power Party for Pohang Nam-Ulneung, Gyeongbuk.

Chairman Lee said in a phone interview that "the agenda to be addressed will be decided after the first meeting with the committee members," but added, "Based on my personal view, all broadcasts, including portals, should not represent political or partisan interests, that is, political frames, in a broad sense."

He emphasized, "Broadcasting and media essentially provide the public with an objective and fair perspective to make judgments. If that essence is captured by partisan interests and political frames, it misleads the public’s perception itself. Whether it is the People Power Party or the Democratic Party of Korea, such influences must be excluded. That is my belief."

Sang-hwi Lee, Elected Member of the People Power Party for Pohang Nam-gu and Ulleung-gun

Chairman Lee served as the Presidential Office Public Relations Planning Secretary and Chunchoogwan Chief during the Lee Myung-bak administration. The committee consists of eight members, including Kim Jang-gyeom, former MBC president and proportional representation elected member, and Park Joon-tae, also a proportional representation elected member. Other members include Kim Si-gwan, adjunct professor at Seoul Media Graduate School; Lee Sang-geun, professor of business administration at Sogang University; Na Kyung-tae, research fellow at the Yeouido Institute’s External Cooperation Office; Lee Jun-woo, former spokesperson for the People’s Future Central Election Committee; lawyer Kwon Oh-hyun; and Park Seung-yong, policy advisor for the Korea Internet Corporations Association.

Kim Jang-gyeom previously participated in the People Power Party’s existing media special committee, which mainly pointed out biased reporting related to MBC. This new committee is expected to continue a similar course. A committee member said in a phone interview on the same day, "The main discussions will take place at the first meeting," but added, "It is understood that this committee will operate as a continuation of the previous one."