Kukim Criticizes Democratic Party-Led Hearings as "Modern People's Tribunal" in National Assembly

Call to Suspend the 'Broadcast Takeover Hearing'

The People Power Party's Special Media Committee on the 15th urged the opposition party to halt the so-called 'Broadcast Takeover Hearing' forcibly conducted by the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee. They also demanded an investigation into the illegal activities that occurred during the MBC Normalization Committee's operations under the Moon Jae-in administration.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In a statement, the special committee said regarding the previous day's '2nd Hearing on Broadcast Takeover' by the Science and Technology Committee, "It was revealed that Heo Mu-ho, former chairman of MBC's 3rd Labor Union, was subjected to testimony coercion tantamount to 'torture' by Song Yo-hoon, former head of the Normalization Committee's Investigation Office 1."

The committee stated, "According to Chairman Heo's testimony, former Director Song summoned Chairman Heo five times over five days to interrogate him about whether he received reporting instructions from Kim Jang-gyeom, then head of the News Headquarters, related to the Sewol Ferry Disaster Special Investigation Committee activities," adding, "This was an attempt to corner Director Kim by forcing unfavorable confessions."

They continued, "Chairman Heo was threatened with severe disciplinary action and criminal punishment and was subjected to near confinement harassment by being placed on standby at the Normalization Committee office," and pointed out, "Meanwhile, former Director Song, dissatisfied with his failure to be appointed as a visiting director at MBC's Broadcast Culture Promotion Foundation, even filed an injunction lawsuit."

The special committee said, "If there is truly a need for a hearing in the Science and Technology Committee, it should be to root out these illegal atrocities," but criticized, "However, the current Science and Technology Committee hearing itself is close to a torture hearing."

The committee emphasized, "If not torture, then what is it when the chairman and acting chairman of the Korea Communications Commission are treated like criminals and forced to testify until the opposition party gets the questions they want in a modern-day people's tribunal?" and added, "This torture hearing, filled only with outrageous remarks and mockery unimaginable in a civilized society, must be stopped immediately."

The MBC 3rd Labor Union also issued a statement on the same day, criticizing that during the hearing, when Broadcasting and Communications Commission Chairperson Lee Jin-sook said regarding the first hearing held on the 9th, "It was like being tortured," Science and Technology Committee Chairperson Choi Min-hee tried to suppress the use of the word 'torture,' calling it "Choi Min-hee's attempt to gag the word 'torture,'" and urged the suspension of the hearing.