The Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee Forces Ahead with the First Hearing on 'Broadcasting Takeover'
On the 9th, the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Communications Committee held the first hearing led by the opposition party on the topic of 'illegal appointment of Visiting Committee directors and related broadcasting control issues.' This was to review the appropriateness of appointing 13 directors, including those of the Korea Broadcasting System (KBS) and Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Broadcasting Culture Promotion Foundation, by Broadcasting and Communications Commission Chairperson Lee Jin-sook and Vice Chair Kim Tae-gyu in a 'two-person system' on Lee's first day in office, last month on the 31st. However, the hearing was only a 'half-measure' as key witnesses, including Chair Lee and Vice Chair Kim, all did not attend.
Before the hearing, Choi Min-hee, chair of the committee, warned, "Out of 29 witnesses, 16 were absent, and 15 submitted reasons for their absence," adding, "Whether to file charges against the absent witnesses will be decided later by the chair in consultation with the secretariat." It is known that Chair Lee, whose duties were suspended following the passage of the impeachment motion in the National Assembly, submitted a letter of absence stating that she was hospitalized and unable to attend.
The ruling party argued that since there was no procedural illegality in the appointment process of the Visiting Committee directors, the hearing was inappropriate. Choi Hyung-doo, a member of the ruling People Power Party and the committee's secretary, protested, "With the current provisional injunction decision and various impeachment proceedings expected to intensify, I do not understand why we must continue with this forced hearing." He also pointed out illegal protests related to the appointment of Visiting Committee directors and requested strong disciplinary action from the National Assembly Secretariat.
From the same party, Park Chung-kwon asked Jo Sung-eun, the secretary-general of the Broadcasting and Communications Commission, "It seems the key issue is whether the resolution for director appointments under the two-person system of the Broadcasting and Communications Commission is illegal. Has there ever been a court ruling declaring such resolutions illegal?" Jo replied, "As far as I know, there has not been." Park emphasized legitimacy by stating, "The only regulation regarding Visiting Committee directors is Article 6, Paragraph 4 of the Broadcasting Culture Promotion Foundation Act, which states that directors are appointed by the Broadcasting and Communications Commission considering expertise in broadcasting and representation from various social sectors. Since there is no specific appointment procedure stipulated in the current law, the appointment plan is established through the Commission's resolution."
On the other hand, the opposition directly accused President Yoon Seok-yeol of being at the core of broadcasting control. Lee Hoon-gi of the Democratic Party of Korea said, "President Yoon dismissed Broadcasting and Communications Commission Chair Han Sang-hyuk on May 30, 2023," emphasizing, "This is where the broadcasting control began, and the core is President Yoon Seok-yeol." He criticized, "Under the regime's scenario, the Broadcasting and Communications Commission chairs are being used as disposable tools for regime control for several months, which is the reality."
As key witnesses did not attend the hearing, the committee decided to hold additional hearings on the 14th and 21st. However, ruling party members of the committee continued to protest, arguing that since the court has suspended the appointment effect of the new Visiting Committee directors until the 26th, related hearings should be suspended until the main ruling is issued.
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