Three MBC Visangjin Directors "Stop the Effectiveness of New Director Appointments"

Some Opposition-Leaning Current Directors
File 'Stay of Execution' Request at Administrative Court

The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) appointed six new directors to the Korea Broadcasting Culture Promotion Foundation (KBCPF), the major shareholder of MBC, under a 'two-person system,' prompting some incumbent directors of KBCPF, classified as opposition-leaning, to oppose the move. They announced that they have filed for a suspension of execution at the Seoul Administrative Court.

KBCPF Chairman Kwon Tae-seon and directors Kim Ki-jung and Park Seon-ah issued a press release on the 5th stating that they have applied to the Seoul Administrative Court for a suspension of execution to temporarily halt the effect of the KCC's appointment of KBCPF directors. Chairman Kwon and others also filed an administrative lawsuit seeking the cancellation of the appointment decision. A suspension of execution is a court order that temporarily halts the execution or effect of a decision made by a government agency or administrative body. If the directors' application is accepted, the KCC's appointment of KBCPF directors will lose its effect.

Kwon Tae-seon, Chairman of the Korea Broadcasting Culture Promotion Foundation. / Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

The directors who filed the lawsuit argued, "The appointment of KBCPF directors made with the approval of only two members?the chairman and vice chairman appointed by the president?lacks legal legitimacy," and added, "It also did not go through the 'deliberation,' an essential element of decision-making required in a collegial administrative body, which aggravates its illegality." The KCC is composed of five standing commissioners, and the opposition directors of MBC and KBCPF claim that making decisions with only the two members appointed by the president is illegal.

The KCC passed the appointment plan for KBCPF directors on the 31st of last month, about 10 hours after appointing Chairman Lee Jin-sook and Commissioner Kim Tae-gyu. They appointed only six new directors from the ruling party side as new directors of KBCPF, whose terms expire on the 12th of this month, and decided to discuss the appointment of opposition directors later. The opposition directors of MBC and KBCPF are opposing the KCC's director appointment decision under the two-person system, claiming it is illegal.