Opposition Party That Created the 'Media Development Forum'... Preparations to Reintroduce the Broadcasting Four Laws

Democratic Party, Joguk Innovation Party, Reform Innovation Party, Social Democratic Party Alliance
Former MBC President Park Seong-je "Yoon Will Neutralize Broadcasting"

The 'Media Development Forum 0503,' which reviews legislative tasks related to the media industry in the National Assembly, was launched on the 22nd. The forum's inaugural general meeting was attended by a large number of current and former journalists affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (Minnochoong), who had led efforts for 'broadcast democratization.' The forum is co-chaired by Representative Kim Hyun of the Democratic Party of Korea and Representative Shin Jang-sik of the Party for National Innovation.

At the inaugural meeting, Representative Kim explained, "The purpose is to respond to the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's attempts to control the media and to seek the development of media freedom." Representative Shin mentioned future plans, saying, "We will make the National Assembly a stronghold for protecting the media through academic seminars and continuous communication." The name '0503' was inspired by May 3rd, which is World Press Freedom Day.

The forum's launch reflects the ongoing opposition coalition's cooperation regarding the Broadcasting Act, which President Yoon vetoed and is pending reapproval by the National Assembly. In June, seven opposition parties launched the 'Joint Countermeasure Committee to Prevent Media Oppression.' On the 1st of this month, they met with National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik to demand a 'State Investigation into Media Control,' and on the 12th, they held an 'Emergency Press Conference Condemning the Veto of the Broadcasting Act.' Yesterday, a research group composed of lawmakers from four opposition parties was also formed.

The National Assembly Media Development Forum 0503 is expected to increase pressure on the government regarding the Broadcasting Act, as Representative Choi Min-hee, chair of the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee, serves as the research lead, and opposition party whip Kim Hyun serves as the representative lawmaker. Members include the two representative lawmakers, the research lead, and Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers Kim Woo-young, Noh Jong-myeon, Yang Moon-seok, Yoon Ho-jung, Lee Jeong-heon, Lee Hoon-gi, Jeon Hyun-hee, Jo In-cheol, and Chu Mi-ae, as well as Reform Party lawmaker Lee Jun-seok and Social Democratic Party lawmaker Han Chang-min.

Civil society is also lending support to the opposition coalition. The inaugural general meeting, which included a luncheon, was attended by former chairpersons of the Korean Federation of Media Workers' Unions Lee Kang-taek, Kang Seong-nam, and Choi Sang-jae, representatives from the Citizens' Coalition for Democratic Media, and the joint representatives of the 1980 Dismissed Journalists Association. Park Sung-je, former president of MBC, who delivered the keynote speech, stated, "The Yoon administration will begin a full-scale neutralization effort after replacing the board members and president of the Korea Broadcasting Culture Promotion Foundation (Bangmunjin)." He asserted, "There is a high possibility that an external far-right figure will be appointed as a parachute president." He emphasized the need for a system that reflects the opinions of members when selecting Bangmunjin board members.