Chairman Kim Hong-il Resigns Before Reporting Impeachment Bill at Plenary Session
KCC to Operate with Vice Chairman Lee Sang-in Alone for Now
'Successor Mentioned' Lee Jin-sook, Former Yoon Camp Media Spokesperson
Kim Hong-il, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), voluntarily resigned on the 2nd before his impeachment motion was reported to the National Assembly plenary session. This decision is interpreted as an effort to prevent a prolonged suspension of the KCC's operations during the impeachment process.
On the day, Chairman Kim did not attend the scheduled Cabinet meeting but participated in a morning retirement ceremony. He chose to resign voluntarily before the impeachment motion, proposed by the opposition parties, was reported to the National Assembly plenary session. President Yoon Suk-yeol also accepted Kim's resignation and approved the dismissal.
If the impeachment motion is reported to the plenary session and passed by a vote between 24 and 72 hours afterward, the chairman’s duties are suspended until the Constitutional Court makes a decision. This would cause a long-term 'all-stop' of the KCC's work, including the recent initiation of the appointment process for public broadcasting board members.
Kim’s resignation is interpreted as an attempt to prevent a long-term suspension of the KCC’s operations, similar to the resignation of former KCC Chairman Lee Dong-gwan last year.
Earlier, opposition parties including the Innovation Party of Jo Guk, the Democratic Party, and the Progressive Party jointly proposed an impeachment motion against Chairman Kim on the 27th of last month. A total of 187 members participated in the motion. The main reasons for impeachment were △ the two-person system of the KCC △ approval of the largest shareholder change at YTN △ negligence in managing the Korea Communications Standards Commission △ refusal to attend the National Assembly and provide requested documents △ negligence in managing TBS, among others.
In particular, the opposition argues that it is inappropriate for the KCC, currently operating under a two-person system, to proceed with the appointment process for the boards of public broadcasters such as the MBC major shareholder, the Broadcasting Culture Promotion Foundation.
Nevertheless, the KCC approved the appointment plan for the public broadcasting boards, including the Broadcasting Culture Promotion Foundation, on the 28th of last month, the day after the opposition’s impeachment motion was proposed, and began recruiting board members.
With the opposition signaling the passage of the Broadcasting Act reforms to change the governance structure of public broadcasters, it is interpreted that the KCC sought to accelerate the appointment process considering the suspension of duties due to impeachment.
Before discussing the board appointment plan, Chairman Kim emphasized the legitimacy of the approval process, citing the KCC’s responsibilities and the 4 to 5 weeks required for the appointment procedure.
Upon Kim’s resignation, the KCC will temporarily operate under a single vice-chairman system, with Vice Chairman Lee acting as the interim head.
A successor to the KCC chairman is expected to be appointed immediately. Lee Jin-sook, former president of Daejeon MBC, is strongly considered as the next chairman. She has already been mentioned as a candidate recommended by the ruling party.
Lee Jin-sook is the first female war correspondent in Korea, having covered the Gulf War in 1991 and the Iraq War in 2003. She participated as a media spokesperson in President Yoon’s presidential campaign but was dismissed a week after her appointment due to opposition from media organizations such as the National Union of Media Workers.
During the Lee Myung-bak administration, Lee served as head of public relations, spokesperson, and head of planning and public relations at MBC under former president Kim Jae-chul. She was also involved in controversy over a false report of 'all survivors rescued' as the head of MBC’s news department during the Sewol ferry disaster.
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