KCC Faces Unprecedented Situation with '0' Standing Commissioners
Yongsan: "National Assembly Must Not Hold Back Republic of Korea"
Candidate Chairperson Lee Jin-suk's Hearing Also Stalled
Jeong Hye-jeon, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, is giving a briefing on current issues regarding the resignation of Lee Sang-in, Vice Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 26th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
President Yoon Suk-yeol approved the voluntary resignation of Lee Sang-in, acting chairman and vice chairman of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), on the 26th. The Democratic Party of Korea intended to prevent a 'KCC paralysis' situation by having Lee resign before the National Assembly plenary session processed the impeachment motion against the vice chairman. The presidential office expressed "serious regret over the opposition party's behavior."
Jung Hye-jeon, spokesperson for the presidential office, held a briefing at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the morning of the 26th, stating, "The vice chairman's resignation is an unavoidable measure to prevent the KCC from falling into a paralysis caused by the opposition party's impeachment motion, which has legal controversy," and added, "The presidential office expresses serious regret over the opposition party's behavior aimed at incapacitating the KCC, which oversees not only broadcasting but also IT and telecommunications policies."
She continued, "If the National Assembly ignores urgent livelihood issues and focuses solely on political strife such as special investigations and frequent impeachment motions, the damage will inevitably fall on the people," emphasizing, "The National Assembly must not hold back the Republic of Korea's progress toward the future any longer."
Vice Chairman Lee had served as acting chairman, filling the chairman vacancy during the resignations of former KCC commissioners Lee Dong-gwan and Kim Hong-il, who stepped down following the opposition party's impeachment motions. However, with Lee's resignation this time, the KCC faces an unprecedented situation with none of the five standing commissioner positions filled.
Since the vice chairman position, which acts as the acting chairman, holds the status of a standing commissioner at the vice ministerial level, President Yoon can appoint a successor immediately, but the successor is reportedly still being selected. A presidential office official said, "The vice chairman has just resigned, and if there are any new updates regarding the appointment of a new vice chairman, we will share them."
The presidential office strongly criticized the ongoing KCC vacancy caused by the opposition party's successive impeachment attempts. A presidential office official told reporters, "Currently, about 94 key bills are pending in the National Assembly, but they are not being properly discussed. All the damage falls on the sovereign people," urging, "We hope the National Assembly will listen to the people's urgent needs as soon as possible."
The confirmation hearing for Lee Jin-sook, the nominee for KCC chairman, is also stalled due to confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties in the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee. A presidential office official said, "The confirmation hearing for (nominee Lee Jin-sook) is still ongoing in the National Assembly," adding, "We will monitor the results and share any new updates later."
The presidential office stated that regarding the 'Broadcasting Four Acts,' which the Democratic Party has announced it will push through, it will decide whether to exercise the veto power in consideration of concerns raised in the National Assembly.
Earlier, Speaker Woo Won-shik submitted the Broadcasting Commission Act amendment, the Broadcasting Act, the Korea Broadcasting Promotion Foundation Act, and the Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act amendments?collectively known as the Broadcasting Four Acts?to the plenary session, and the People Power Party is resisting by conducting a filibuster (unlimited debate).
A presidential office official said, "The bills that the veto power would be exercised on have been reintroduced with problematic content added, causing controversy even within the political circles," and added, "We will consider the concerns raised in the National Assembly and make a decision later."
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