Lee Jin-sook, Chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission, Says "Being Asked if I Received an 'Order' for Director Appointment Is Insulting"

Lee, Attending National Assembly Hearing While Suspended from Duty
"Appointment of Public Broadcaster Director Is Not Grounds for Impeachment"

Lee Jin-sook, Chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission, stated, "I do not believe that the appointment of public broadcasting directors constitutes grounds for impeachment." Chairperson Lee is currently suspended from duty following the passage of an impeachment motion led by opposition parties in the National Assembly.

The National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee has been conducting the ‘Second Hearing on Broadcasting Takeover Related to the Appointment of Visiting Directors’ since the morning of the 14th. Acting Chairman Kim Tae-gyu (Vice Chairman) attended the hearing from the morning, and Chairperson Lee appeared in the afternoon as a 'general witness.' She did not attend the first hearing on the 9th due to hospitalization.

Lee Jin-sook, Chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission, is responding to lawmakers' questions at the second hearing on "Illegal Appointment of Directors of the Broadcasting Culture Promotion Association and Related Broadcasting Control" held by the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 14th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the hearing, Chairperson Lee stated, "The terms of the directors of the Broadcasting Culture Promotion Agency were set to expire on the 12th of this month, so the appointment of directors was one of the tasks entrusted to us, and we appointed them according to laws and principles." She added, "I do not believe that the appointment of public broadcasting directors constitutes grounds for impeachment."

When opposition lawmakers from the committee asked about the detailed appointment approval process, she avoided answering by saying, "188 members participated in the impeachment vote, and 186 voted in favor, so I am currently suspended from duty," and "Since the Constitutional Court is adjudicating the matter, it is not appropriate to comment on duties related to it." She continued, "Once the impeachment trial concludes and I return to work, I can hold a committee meeting to provide answers."

Regarding opposition lawmakers’ claims that there was a 'higher-up order' when appointing public broadcasting directors, she retorted, "You have immunity privileges, so I have nothing to say, but suggesting that I received orders from somewhere is very insulting." She further stated, "I saw the previous hearing where even the office chief and section chiefs were summoned and asked to answer matters they could not respond to themselves," adding, "It was like being tortured," showing a confrontational stance toward the lawmakers.