People Power Party "Suspend Effect of New MBC Board Members... Opponents Should Also Halt Hearings"

On the 8th, the People Power Party urged the Democratic Party of Korea to halt the forced holding of the National Assembly hearing in relation to the court's provisional suspension of the appointment effectiveness of the new directors of the MBC major shareholder, the Korea Broadcasting Culture Promotion Foundation, until the 26th.

Choi Hyung-doo, the ruling party floor leader of the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Communications Committee from the People Power Party, stated in a notice to the press corps on the day, "Since the provisional injunction decision on the effectiveness of the Foundation's directors has been issued, the Democratic Party should stop the related hearings they are forcing until the main judgment on the 26th."

The Seoul Administrative Court ruled on the day, "It is necessary to prevent unnecessary disputes between the directors of the Foundation whose terms are about to expire and those appointed as their successors, so the effectiveness is provisionally suspended."

On the 30th, members of the People Power Party came out to the rotunda hall stairs to condemn the ruling party's forceful passage as the vote began on the fourth bill among the 'Broadcasting 4 Acts,' the amendment to the Educational Broadcasting Corporation Act (EBS Act), in the National Assembly plenary session. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Rep. Choi said, "All witnesses who were notified to appear are now in a state where the effectiveness of their director appointments is suspended, so it is inappropriate to question them at the hearing," adding, "An important decision will be made by the court, so it is proper to wait until then."

Earlier, opposition parties including the Democratic Party unilaterally passed a plan to hold three hearings this month on the 'broadcasting takeover' in the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, and selected seven KBS directors and six Foundation directors recently appointed by the Korea Communications Commission as witnesses.

Regarding the Administrative Court's decision, the Democratic Party said in a briefing, "It is unusual that the court recognized the seriousness of the controversy surrounding the Korea Communications Commission's appointment of the Foundation's directors and made a preliminary judgment to minimize confusion and ensure a careful ruling," adding, "We hope for a wise judgment in the public interest."