"Is Support for Yoon Among 20s and 30s Far-Right?
Then Choi Min-hee of the Opposition Is Far-Left"
Lee Jin-sook, Chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission, said on the 14th, "If people feel even a little intimidated by KakaoTalk, which is widely used by the public, or social media (SNS) used as a means of communication between individuals, it would be like destroying one of the great pillars of democracy."
Chairperson Lee made this remark during a National Assembly interpellation session in response to a question from Choi Su-jin, a member of the People Power Party, who asked for her opinion on the Democratic Party's style of media censorship, which threatens to file complaints if fake news related to incitement of rebellion is spread via KakaoTalk.
Chairperson Lee emphasized, "KakaoTalk, like Naver Line and other means of communication, is used by almost the entire nation as a communication tool."
She added, "If the Democratic Party does not have such an intention, wouldn't the public trust them more if they clearly declared that 'there is no KakaoTalk censorship'?"
In response to the question, "Are you aware that support for President Yoon Seok-yeol is increasing among people in their 20s and 30s?" Chairperson Lee replied, "I know from the reports."
She continued, "If the 20s and 30s generation attending the Gwanghwamun rallies are labeled as far-right, it is an attempt to brand a significant portion of our people as far-right forces, which is a very dangerous idea."
She further stated, "If that is the case, then Democratic Party lawmaker Choi Min-hee, who said 'If the anti-Lee Jae-myung factions move, I will gather all the supporters and kill them,' would be considered far-left." This referred to a statement made by Rep. Choi in a media interview last November after the first trial verdict on the Public Official Election Act involving Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party.
Regarding her remarks made on the 23rd of last month at the KCC press room after her impeachment motion was dismissed, where she said that the expression "12·3 rebellion" was incorrect, Chairperson Lee explained, "Since the term 'rebellion' is still undergoing legal procedures, it is more accurate to say '12·3 martial law' rather than '12·3 rebellion.' I said this as a senior journalist."
In response, Rep. Choi, who asked about this, pointed out, "The KCC holds the reauthorization rights for broadcasters with some reporting functions. How can that be heard as something said by a senior?"
Chairperson Lee rebutted, "Some refer to it as 'reporting guidelines,' but in 21st century Korea, the term 'reporting instructions' is absurd, and wise journalists do not accept it as guidelines."
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