Science and ICT Committee holds first-ever solo audit of the Korea Communications Commission... Clash over Chairperson Ryu Hee-rim's qualifications

Verbal Clash Between Ruling and Opposition Parties Over Allegations of Soliciting Complaints
Both Parties Also Urge for Measures Against Digital Sex Crimes

The National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Communications Committee held the first-ever standalone audit of the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) to address allegations of complaint solicitation involving Chairman Ryu Hee-rim. The opposition party claimed that the election process of Chairman Ryu was itself illegitimate and refused to acknowledge him as chairman. The ruling party pointed out that the opposition was responsible for not recommending any commissioners.

Ryu Hee-rim, Chairperson of the Korea Communications Standards Commission, is taking the oath as a witness at the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee's audit on the morning of the 21st.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 21st, the National Assembly's Science and Technology Committee conducted a government audit targeting the KCSC at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. This was the first standalone audit of the KCSC. The committee had initially planned to conduct the audit jointly with the Korea Communications Commission on the 7th. However, after Chairman Ryu and others did not attend the hearing on the 30th of last month, it was decided to hold the KCSC audit independently.

The opposition pointed out flaws in Chairman Ryu's election process. Ryu was elected as the 6th KCSC chairman on July 5th through a five-member vote. The KCSC is supposed to operate with nine members under normal circumstances. Roh Jong-myeon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, referred to Ryu as "Mr. Ryu" and said, "Please remove the nameplate in front of Mr. Ryu," adding, "The legislative intent of forming the committee is to ensure diversity, but was there even one opposition-recommended member on the committee that made Mr. Ryu chairman?"

On the other hand, the ruling party rebutted by blaming the Democratic Party for not recommending any commissioners. Park Chung-kwon, a member of the People Power Party, said, "Don't just oppose by claiming that a two- or three-member system is illegal," and added, "The opposition is causing the illegality but not taking responsibility, while neglecting pressing livelihood issues and only obstructing."

The opposition and Chairman Ryu also engaged in a verbal dispute. The opposition pointed to allegations that Chairman Ryu solicited complaints himself. Ryu is suspected of filing fake news complaints against media outlets that cited recordings by Kim Man-bae and Shin Hak-rim of Newstapa, using family and acquaintances. Lee Hoon-gi, a Democratic Party lawmaker, said, "The biggest beneficiary of the complaint solicitation is President Yoon Seok-yeol," likening Chairman Ryu to a servant of President Yoon. In response, Chairman Ryu said, "Calling me President Yoon's servant is an excessive expression," to which Lee said he would no longer listen to Ryu's answers.

First Lady Kim Geon-hee was also a topic of discussion that day. According to materials obtained by Democratic Party lawmaker Han Min-su's office, on November 26 last year, Chairman Ryu instructed Director A of the KCSC's Communications Review Bureau to urgently submit an agenda item for communications review regarding a video of First Lady Kim receiving a luxury bag, which Seoul Voice, an internet media outlet, had announced it would release. Han's office explained that urgent agenda submission means blocking access to the YouTube video. When Han asked, "What was the reason for handling (the review of First Lady Kim's luxury bag receipt video, etc.) seriously and swiftly?" Chairman Ryu replied, "We are proceeding swiftly on matters that attract social attention."

Meanwhile, both ruling and opposition parties are expected to urge the KCSC to prepare countermeasures against digital sex crimes. Recently, pornographic materials synthesized with acquaintances' faces using deepfake technology have spread mainly on Telegram among the 10-20 age group. Not only the parties but also President Yoon Seok-yeol has instructed the preparation of measures against digital sex crimes. From January to July this year, the KCSC requested corrections for a total of 42,407 cases of digital sex crime materials.