Decision on Position Before Today's Plenary Vote
Vacant Head at KCC... Operational Disruptions Inevitable
Broadcasting Act Amendments and Telecom Regulations Impact Market
Lee Jin-sook, Chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), faces a critical crossroads amid impeachment attacks from the opposition. If Chairperson Lee does not resign voluntarily and waits for the Constitutional Court's impeachment ruling, the KCC's operations will be paralyzed for several months.
According to political circles on the 2nd, the opposition's impeachment motion against Chairperson Lee is expected to be submitted and voted on at the National Assembly plenary session that day. Impeachment motions require the support of at least one-third of the total members to be proposed and a majority of the total members to be approved. If the impeachment motion passes, Chairperson Lee's duties will be immediately suspended.
Once an impeachment case is filed, the Constitutional Court must reach a decision within 180 days. High-ranking public officials are subject to impeachment if they violate the law in the execution of their duties.
Six opposition parties, including the Democratic Party of Korea, argue that Chairperson Lee's decision to appoint public broadcasting directors under a 'dual leadership system' on her inauguration day, the 31st of last month, was illegal. However, the ruling party believes there is a high possibility that the impeachment motion will be dismissed or rejected by the Constitutional Court.
Resignation? Impeachment? Chairperson Lee’s Choice at a Crossroads
Before the plenary session convenes that day, Chairperson Lee faces the choice of either resigning voluntarily or confronting the impeachment pressure head-on.
An impeachment decision requires the approval of at least six of the nine Constitutional Court justices. Even if impeached, civil and criminal liabilities are not exempted, and those dismissed by impeachment cannot serve as public officials for five years.
If the Constitutional Court upholds the impeachment, Chairperson Lee may bear the dishonor of being the 'shortest-serving minister' despite her title as the country's first female war correspondent. However, if the impeachment is dismissed by the Constitutional Court, as in the case of Minister Lee Sang-min of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, it is analyzed that Chairperson Lee’s efforts at the KCC could gain momentum.
KCC Unable to Function... Negative Impact on the Market
If Chairperson Lee waits for the Constitutional Court's impeachment ruling, the KCC, having lost its final decision-maker and head, will be in a 'shutdown' state for more than five months. Disruptions across the KCC’s responsibilities in broadcasting, telecommunications, and media are inevitable.
The disappearance of 'switching subsidies'?benefits given to subscribers by the three major telecom companies when changing numbers?on the latest smartphones, Galaxy Z Fold6 and Flip6, is already affecting the market amid the leadership vacuum at the KCC.
The KCC is drafting measures to ease outdated regulations on broadcasting company ownership, cross-ownership, and broadcasting advertising, but these require committee approval to amend related laws.
Additionally, projects planned for the second half of this year, such as promoting the AI Service User Protection Act and supporting domestic online video service (OTT) providers’ overseas market expansion, may be delayed, potentially weakening industry competitiveness.
A KCC official stated, "We will continuously monitor activities that disrupt the telecommunications market order or harm user rights and interests," adding, "For issues that do not require major policy decisions, we will fulfill our responsibilities as a post-regulatory agency."
Meanwhile, Chairperson Lee submitted a letter of absence citing health reasons for the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee plenary meeting scheduled at 10 a.m. that day and did not come to her office at the Government Complex Gwacheon.
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