Plan for Public Broadcasting Board Appointment 'Swift Resolution' Approved
"Decided on a 2-Person System Criticized for Illegality"
Opposition to Handle Kim Hong-il Impeachment Bill in Plenary Session on 3rd-4th
Park Chan-dae, Acting Leader and Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized the Broadcasting and Communications Commission's resolution on the appointment plan for public broadcasting directors as an illegal administrative act that is null and void from the outset.
Park Chan-dae, Acting President and Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 1st. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
On the 1st, Acting Leader Park said at the Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, "Despite repeated warnings from the public and the National Assembly, the Broadcasting and Communications Commission forcibly pushed through the appointment plan for public broadcasting directors," adding, "Chairman Kim Hong-il of the Broadcasting Commission made this decision again with a two-person system, despite continuous legal violations pointed out by both the courts and the National Assembly." He emphasized, "Illegal administrative acts are null and void in themselves, so this resolution by the Broadcasting Commission is naturally null and void from the outset."
He also criticized the operation of the Broadcasting Commission as an area requiring investigation. Acting Leader Park said, "The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) must immediately launch a compulsory investigation into the two individuals who illegally operated the state agency, the Broadcasting Commission," and added, "The Democratic Party will mobilize all means to block the broadcasting takeover coup led by President Yoon Seok-yeol's supervision and Chairman Kim."
The Broadcasting Commission held a plenary meeting on the 28th of last month and resolved matters related to the appointment plan for public broadcasting executives. Chairman Kim said at the plenary meeting, "The terms of the visiting directors and auditors of the Korea Broadcasting Advertising Corporation (Visiting Jin), whose terms expire first, will end on August 12, 2024," and added, "Considering that the appointment process takes roughly 4 to 5 weeks, the appointment procedure cannot be delayed any further."
The opposition parties immediately protested. Opposition lawmakers belonging to the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee visited the Broadcasting Commission in protest but were unable to enter the Gwacheon office building, leading to clashes on site. The five opposition parties (Democratic Party of Korea, Party for National Innovation, Progressive Party, Social Democratic Party, and New Future Party) have jointly submitted an impeachment motion against Chairman Kim. The opposition plans to process the impeachment motion against Chairman Kim at the plenary session of the National Assembly on the 3rd or 4th.
Meanwhile, Acting Leader Park pressured the Yoon administration to immediately provide livelihood recovery support funds. He said, "The government and ruling party have proposed measures such as delivery fee support for small restaurants, but such 'piecemeal' measures cannot overcome the crisis," adding, "To create a virtuous cycle structure where domestic consumption revitalizes the entire economy, negotiations on livelihood recovery support funds must proceed immediately."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
