"Ruling Party Increases Pressure"... Democratic Party Submits Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Act and Four Bills for Media Normalization

Kim Yong-min "Special Prosecutor to Expand Investigation Targets"
"Remaining Bills to Be Proposed After Standing Committee Review"

The Democratic Party of Korea proposed the 'Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Act' and the 'Media Normalization Four Acts (Broadcasting 3+1 Acts)' as party policies on the 13th.

Kim Yong-min, the Democratic Party's Deputy Floor Leader for Policy, said shortly after submitting the related bills to the National Assembly's Legislative Affairs Office in the afternoon, "We have just proposed (submitted) the Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Act and the Broadcasting 3+1 Acts, which were requested as party policies at today's policy members' meeting." The 'Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Act' is a bill to introduce a special prosecutor to investigate allegations involving Kim Geon-hee, wife of President Yoon Seok-yeol, including suspicions of stock manipulation related to Deutsche Motors and allegations of receiving luxury handbags.

Deputy Floor Leader Kim explained, "The Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Act is a law that expands the scope of investigation to include suspicions such as stock manipulation, receiving luxury handbags, illegal solicitations related to the luxury handbags, and any possible illegal acts resulting from unknown solicitations."

On the same day, Han Jun-ho, head of the Media Reform Task Force, submitted the Media Normalization Four Acts. The 'Media Normalization Four Acts' refers to the existing 'Broadcasting 3 Acts (Broadcasting Act, Broadcasting Culture Promotion Act, Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act)' with the addition of the Korea Communications Commission Act. The Korea Communications Commission Act stipulates that meetings and resolutions can only be held if at least four commissioners are present, by introducing a quorum requirement.

Han explained, "The Broadcasting 3 Acts, which could not be processed due to the president's veto power in the 21st National Assembly, precisely change the system of 'how to select the heads of public broadcasters,' improving the governance structure of public broadcasters applied to KBS, MBC, and EBS." He added, "The Korea Communications Commission Act was amended so that for major agenda items, at least four commissioners must hold a meeting and a majority must approve to process personnel and other matters, addressing the current illegal operation of the commission."

Democratic Party Submits Special Prosecutor Bill on First Lady Kim Geon-hee
(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Juhyung = Kim Yong-min, Deputy Floor Policy Chief of the Democratic Party (right), and Han Junho, Head of the Media Reform Task Force, submitted the special prosecutor bill to investigate the stock manipulation case involving First Lady Kim Geon-hee and the 3+1 Broadcasting Normalization Act to the National Assembly’s Legislative Affairs Office on the afternoon of June 13, 2024.
kjhpress@yna.co.kr
(End)

? Yonhap News, Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, AI training and use prohibited

Regarding the roadmap for promoting the Broadcasting 3 Acts, he said, "Currently, the original bills by Jeong Cheong-rae, Lee Hun-gi, Choi Min-hee, and Kim Hyun have been jointly proposed," and added, "Since these are individual legislations, the Media Reform Task Force will review them as a whole and submit a final TF proposal, and we expect to internally discuss at least one supplementary provision later."

Earlier, the Democratic Party held its first policy members' meeting of the 22nd National Assembly in the morning and adopted 22 bills and one resolution as party policies.

Specifically, the 22 bills include △Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Act △Broadcasting Act △Broadcasting Culture Promotion Act △Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act △Korea Communications Commission Establishment and Operation Act △Bank Act (2 cases) △Support for Low-Income Financial Services Act (2 cases) △Housing Finance Corporation Act and Housing and Urban Fund Act △Debtor Rehabilitation Act and Court Establishment Act △Restriction of Special Taxation Act △City Gas Business Act △Industrial Cluster Activation Act △National Advanced Strategic Industry Act △Win-Win Cooperation Act △Small Business Act △Public Medical School Establishment Act △Regional Doctor Training Act △National Health Insurance Act △Child Allowance Act △Child Welfare Act, and one resolution titled 'Resolution Urging the Withdrawal of Japan's Sado Mine UNESCO Listing.'

Han said, "The remaining adopted bills have not yet been proposed by the respective standing committees," and added, "It seems that the bills will be finalized by each standing committee and proposed after consultation according to the schedule."